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"Child abuse crosses all economic, racial, and religious lines. It occurs in cities, suburbs, and rural areas, says Peggy Foster, administrative director of the Metro Regional Diagnostic and Treatment Center at Newark Beth Israel Medical Center. During April, National Child Abuse Prevention Month, child advocates and supporters underscore the importance of the public knowing what child abuse is and how to recognize it.
Ms. Foster points out that there are actually four categories of child abuse. They include physical abuse, physical neglect, sexual abuse and emotional maltreatment.
According to Foster, some of the signs that may indicate that a child has been physically abused is that the child is:
- Wary of adult contacts
- Apprehensive when other children cry
- Has behavioral extremes such as aggressiveness or withdrawal
- Is frightened of parents
- Is afraid to go home
- Reports injury by parents
In physical neglect, some of the behaviors and characteristics may include:
- Begging, stealing food
- Extended stays at school (early arrival and late departure)
- Constantly falling asleep in class
- Alcohol or drug abuse
- Delinquency (e.g. thefts)
- States there is no caregiver
A child that has been a victim of sexual abuse may:
- Be unwilling to change for gym or participate
- Exhibit withdrawal, fantasy, or infantile behavior
- Have bizarre, sophisticated, or unusual sexual behavior or knowledge
- Have poor peer relationships
- Be delinquent or run away
- Report sexual assault by caregiver
Where there is emotional maltreatment, you are likely to see a child that has:
- Behavior extremes-compliant, passive vs. aggressive, demanding
- Overly adoptive behavior inappropriately adult/inappropriately infant
- Developmental lags (physical, mental, emotional)
- Attempted suicide
"With therapy there is hope for recovery for children who have suffered from abuse," says Ms. Foster. "By recognizing and treating child abuse, we can hope to break the pattern for the future." If you feel that a child is being abused, call 1 877-652-2873. The call may be made anonymously.
The Metro Regional Diagnostic and Treatment Center is located
at Newark Beth Israel Medical Center, an affiliate of the Saint
Barnabas Health Care System The center is one of only four centers
in the state designated to evaluate children medically and psychosocially.
Date: March 22, 2006
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