Child Abuse: Detection, Investigation, and Evaluation
The child abuse. Detection, investigation and evaluation
Child abuse has always existed. Children, over the centuries, have been regarded as private property of their parents, and at certain times, owned by the society in which they live. In the seventeenth century, the birth is the basis on which to support child welfare. In 1923, the drafting of the statement Gebbs rights of the child. In 1955, environmental and family factors began to be assessed as determinants of trauma. It was in 1959 when the United Nations approved the Rights of the Child. Although initially directed toward physical abuse, the concept gradually broadened, with Lukianowicz talking about psychological abuse and cataloging the consequences of abuse, including child sexual abuse. Common features of all abusive situations are that they result from a series of problems affecting the welfare of the parents/guardians, adversely affect the physical or mental health of children, and hinder their development. Child abuse increases when the situation becomes chronic. Moving forward, we will define some types of abuse:
- Physical abuse: any action causing non-accidental physical injury or illness.
- Physical abandonment or neglect: a situation in which the child’s physical needs are not met.
- Emotional abuse: verbal hostility in the form of insult, ridicule, scorn, and blocking interaction.
- Emotional neglect: persistent lack of response from parents/guardians to signs or emotional expressions.
- Sexual abuse: any kind of sexual contact of a minor by an adult from a position of power.
- Labor exploitation: mandatory assignment of work beyond normal limits within the socio-cultural context.
- Corruption: behaviors that prevent integration and reinforce antisocial behaviors.
- Inability to control the child’s behavior: when parents/guardians manifest inability to educate and control their children.
- Prenatal abuse: use of harmful substances during pregnancy.
- Nonorganic failure in development: children who do not grow due to non-organic causes.
- Munchausen syndrome by proxy: continuous medical examinations and hospitalizations of children generated by adults.
- Neglect: rejection of parental obligations.
Detection should be based on external events, as most abuse occurs in private. Indicators related to physical characteristics of the child, child’s behavior, and parental behavior should be considered. Indirect indicators such as developmental delay, non-organic causes, sexual behavior disorders, rejection of food, lack of vaccines and health care, indifference, isolation, defensiveness, and fear of adults should also be taken into account. The presence of these factors does not determine abuse, but it raises suspicion of potential risk. When childhood services teams detect certain indicators, the aim is to determine whether the case involves abuse or other problems.