5 Types of child abuse

Child physical abuse is Any intentional act causing injury or trauma to a child by way of bodily contact.

It involves beating, kicking, punching, biting, spanking, corporal punishments, poisoning, burning and other ways of harming a child.

Physical signs

• Bruises, burns, scalds, sprains, dislocations, human bites, cuts.
• Injuries that the child cannot explain or explains unconvincingly Untreated or inadequately treated injuries.
• Injuries to parts of the body where accidents are unlikely, such as thighs, back, abdomen.

Behavioral Signs

• Becoming sad, withdrawn or depressed
• Having trouble sleeping
• Behaving aggressively or being disruptive
• Showing fear of certain adults
• Fear of returning home or of parents being contacted
• Showing lack of confidence and low self-esteem
• Being very passive and compliant
• Using drugs or alcohol
• running away

Child Abuse series – Sexual abuse

Child sexual abuse is the involvement of a child in sexual activity that he or she does not fully comprehend, is unable to give informed consent to, or for which the child is not developmentally prepared and cannot give consent, or that violates the laws or social taboos of society.

Child sexual abuse is evidenced by this activity between a child and an adult or another child who by age or development is in a relationship of responsibility, trust or power, the activity being intended to gratify or satisfy the needs of the other person.

This may include but is not limited to:

• The temptation or enforcement of a child to engage in any unlawful sexual activity
• The exploitative use of a child in prostitution or other unlawful sexual practices
• The exploitative use of children in child sexual abuse performance or materials

Physical Signs

• Pain, itching, bruising or bleeding in the genital or anal areas.
• Incontinence (urine / Stool)
• Genital discharge or urinary tract infections
• Stomach pains or discomfort walking or sitting
• Sexually transmitted infections

Behavioral signs

• A marked change in the child’s general behavior.
• Unusually quiet and withdrawn, or unusually aggressive.
• Showing unexpected fear or distrust of an adult/s.
• Child starts using sexually explicit behavior or language, particularly if the behavior or language is not appropriate for their age.
• The child may describe receiving special attention from a particular adult, or refer to a new “secret” friendship with an adult or young person.
• Younger children might suffer from sudden bedwetting, clingy behavior and irritability.

Child Abuse series – Emotional abuse

Involves acts or omissions by guardians and caregivers that cause or could cause serious behavioral, cognitive, emotional or mental disorders. This includes parents/care givers using extreme and bizarre forms of punishment, such as confinement in a closet or dark room or being tied to a chair for long periods of time, threatening or terrorizing a child. This form of abuse often accompanies the others.

Physical signs

• Physical, mental and emotional development is delayed
• Highly anxious
• Showing delayed speech or sudden speech disorder
• Low self-esteem
• abnormal emotional responses to painful situations
• Extremes of passivity or aggression

Behavioral signs

• Dressed inappropriately for the season or the weather
• Poor personal hygiene
• Is inadequately supervised or left in the care of an inappropriate care giver.
• Untreated medical problems
• Frequently hungry
• Frequent lateness or nonattendance at school
• Untreated medical problems
• Poor social relationships Drug or alcohol abuse
• Chronic running away
• Compulsive stealing

Child Abuse series – Commercial exploitation and abuse

It means the use of the child in work or other activities for the benefit of others even with a pay.

This includes, but is not limited to, child labor and child prostitution.

These activities are compromising physical or mental health, education, or spiritual, moral or social and emotional development

Physical Signs:

Physical Injuries

Behavioral Signs:

School absence and drop out

Child involved in prostitution

Parents push girls into sexual activities to earn some money

Parents push children into hard labor (agriculture, mining and industrial)

Bargain & Child marriages

Child Abuse series – Neglect

Especially in rural areas in Egypt, the children are more prone to this type of abuse, it is he persistent failure to meet a child’s basic physical or psychological needs, depriving them from their basic rights to grow and develop.

 Examples of neglect include:

• child overburdened with household chores

• child denied money for food

• disabled children neglect and lack of hygiene  

• lack of attention for medical, dental or psychological problems

Physical signs:

• Anaemia as result of poor feeding

• Lack of clothing, food, or supplies

• Evidence of poisoning

• Signs of malnutrition

• Poor body hair and dental hygiene

Behavioral signs:

• Children roaming during day and night

• Taking food or money without permission outside the home

• Eating a lot in one sitting or hiding food for later

• Not wanting to go home

• School absence or dropout

• Failure to follow instructions or abide by rules