Family and Child Welfare

Family and Child Welfare 3 (3+0)

Lesson 29 : Causes of Child Neglect and Abuse

Symptoms of Child Neglect and Abuse

Neglect and abuse are commonly attached to those symptoms which denote parental failure to perform adequately the essential child care tasks or parental failure to perform certain duties at all. Some of these symptoms are observable in children’s personal appearance or behavior; they may be poorly fed, with the result being lack of proper growth, a low energy level, apathy, restlessness, or susceptibility to chronic infections. They may be shabbily clothed or not dressed for protection against extreme weather conditions. They are often dirty or show other signs of faulty parental care of their persons.

Sometimes the neglect involves failure or refusal to obtain essential medical care. Preschool children who belong to multi problem, disorganized families often show distinctive and handicapping deviations in their psychological development. Some infants and young children show a general failure to thrive even when no organic basis can be established for their lack of healthy growth and development. Children of all ages may reveal parental neglect by a range of maladjusted behaviors and emotional disorders.

Children’s neglect may be directly observable in home conditions which affect them adversely. Children may experience unwholesome or demoralizing circumstances at home-violence, excessive quarreling, parental dishonesty, defiance of proper authority in society or lack of love or concern for each other’s welfare among family members.