Seminar - Child Abuse

Question 1

What is Child abuse (WHO)?

Answer 1

All types of physical and/or emotional ill treatment, sexual abuse, neglect, negligence and commercial or other exploitation, which results in actual or potential harm to the child’s health, survival, development or dignity

Question 2

How is Child Abuse Classified?

Answer 2

Into 4 main forms:
Physical abuse
Sexual Abuse
Emotional Abuse
Neglect
Other forms: child labour, female genital mutilation and the Trokosi system

Question 3

What is physical abuse?

Answer 3

Involves a caregiver inflicting non-accidental physical injury or engaging in actions that create a high risk of harm. This includes striking, biting and burning

Question 4

In what instance is physical abuse inflicted at home?

Answer 4

It may be inflicted with the objective of punishing the child.

Question 5

Which groups of children are the most vulnerable to physical abuse?

Answer 5

Infants and toddlers are the most vulnerable because *the developmental stages that they may go through.

*This age group is also at increased risk because they cannot report their abuse

Question 6

What is sexual abuse?

Answer 6

Constitutes any action with a child that is done for the sexual gratification or the financial profit of the person committing the act.

Question 7

Give some examples of sexual abuse

Answer 7

It includes

• sexual intercourse,
• exposure of the perpetrator’s genitals,
• showing sexually explicit material to a child, or
• to participate in the production of sexual material.

Question 8

What is the DSM-V definition for emotional abuse?

Answer 8

Non-accidental verbal or symbolic acts by a child’s parent or caregiver that result, or have reasonable potential to result, in significant psychological harm to the child

Question 9

Give some examples of emotional abuse.

Answer 9

Includes rejecting, isolating, terrorizing, verbally assaulting and over-pressuring a child.

Question 10

What is unique about emotional abuse?

Answer 10

It is not as obvious as physical abuse due to the absence of physical injury. It is also largely unreported because it has been normalized in most Ghanaian societies.

Question 10

What is unique about emotional abuse?

Answer 10

It is not as obvious as physical abuse due to the absence of physical injury. It is also largely unreported because it has been normalized in most Ghanaian societies.

Question 11

What efforts are being made to help emotionally abused children?

Answer 11

Several advocacy groups are attempting to create severity stratification systems based on the legal constructs of harm and intent so that emotionally abused children are identified and managed.

Question 12

What is physical neglect?

Answer 12

Failure to provide adequate food, clothing, shelter and protection from potential harm

Question 13

What is childhood neglect?

Answer 13

Failure to provide for or meet a child’s basic physical, emotional, educational and medical needs

Question 14

What is emotional neglect?

Answer 14

Failure to provide affection or love or other kinds of emotional support

Question 15

What is educational neglect?

Answer 15

Failure to enroll a child in school, ensure attendance at school or provide home schooling

Question 16

What is medical neglect?

Answer 16

Failure to ensure that a child receives appropriate care or needed treatment for injuries or physical or mental disorders

Question 17

What is Female Genital Mutilation? And where is it prevalentt?

Answer 17

involves surgical removal of parts or all of the most sensitive female genital organs , usually the clitoris. most prevalent in the northern regions and some parts of the Volta and Oti Regions

Question 18

What is Female Genital Mutilation? And where is it prevalent?

Answer 18

involves surgical removal of parts or all of the most sensitive female genital organs , usually the clitoris.

*Most prevalent in the northern regions and some parts of the Volta and Oti Regions

Question 19

What are the underlying beliefs of FGM? What does it ensure

Answer 19

It is believed that by mutilating the female’s genital organ, her sexuality will be controlled; but above all it is to ensure a woman’s virginity before marriage and chastity thereafter

Question 20

What are some complications of FGM?

Answer 20

haemorrhage, infection, acute pain and keloid formation

Question 21

What is the Trokosi System?

Answer 21

A traditional system where virgins girls are sent into shrines as slaves to make amends for wrongs committed by a member of her family.

Question 22

In which part of Ghana is the Trokosi system common?

Answer 22

In the Southern Volta Region of Ghana

Question 23

What happens to the virgin girls sent to shrines as part of the Trokosi system?

Answer 23

They become the “wives of the gods” and are sexually exploited by the priests and shrine priests

Question 24

What is the fate of trokosi girls?

Answer 24

Most trokosi are condemned to a lifelong hard labor, sexual servitude and perpetual childbearing at the service of the village priest

Question 25

What has been done to combat the Trokosi system?

Answer 25

In 1998, the Ghanaian government passed a law criminalizing the trokosi practice but there are still reports of its existence

Question 26

What is Child Labor?

Answer 26

It refers to the employment of children in any work that deprives children of their childhood, interferes with their ability to attend regular school, or is mentally, physically, socially or morally dangerous and harmful

Question 27

What are some risk factors for child abuse?

Answer 27

A history of abuse or neglect as a child, physical or mental illness, family crisis or stress, unemployment, family isolation and inadequate parenting skills.

Also, your race/ ethnic group, gender or age group, or social or economic status.

Question 28

What are the child related risk factors for Child Abuse?

Answer 28

Age: Infants and toddlers are more liable to abuse

Failure of child to meet parental expectations and aspirations eg: disabled child

Question 29

What are some parental/Caregiver risk factors for child abuse?

Answer 29

Individual characteristics: clear maternal or paternal mental illness
Substance abuse: alcohol, drug abuse
low socio-economic status: poverty