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Abuse and domestic violence usually happens to all people though this problem is usually denied, overlooked and excused. This is true when the violence and abuse is psychological. Emotional abuse though it is minimized, it would leave immense and lasting scars. Noticing as well as acknowledging any symptoms and warning signs of abuse are the major step to ending the violence. Violence and abuse do not discriminate and it does happen to all people irrespective of their ages, economic levels or ethnic background. Abuse usually escalates from verbal abuse, threats to acts of violence. Though physical injury might be an obvious danger, the psychological and emotional impacts of violence are quite severe. It is therefore imperative to embark on child abuse and its impact on health.
Interpersonal violence and abuse is a global phenomenon and nurses should seek ways into which to integrate cultural competence in order to help them to understand relationships between interpersonal violence and culture (Zoucha, 2006, pp. 195-6). Child abuse has an impact on children depending on various factors. One of them is the extent of the physical abuse, second is the frequency of the abuse, third is the age factor of the child, and fourth is the relationship that the child has with the abuser, fifth is how available the children are to get help and finally the ability of the children to cope with the abuse.
Child is any person who is younger than 18 years. Child abuse is any nonaccidental injury as well as any act of omission by the parent’s guardian, caretakers that result to imminent risks of harm or risks of impaired health, death and others. There are numerous types of abuse that children go through. They undergo physical abuse, physical neglect, emotional abuse and neglect and sexual abuse. Children who suffer from abuse develop ranges of maladaptive, self destructive actions, anti social behaviors and thoughts as they try to cope with the entire trauma.
Child abuse has immense effects on children. It causes children to have academic difficulties, result to taking of drugs and alcohols, being aggressive, have nightmares, bed wet, chronic pains, depression, eating disorders, insomnia, malnutrition, stomachaches and headaches and even suicide attempts (Arthur, 2005). Children who are abused sexually are also at very high risks of developing anxiety, personality and mental disorders (Philip, David & Simon, 2004, pp. 416-421).
Adult women who have a history of child abuse usually portray great evidence when it comes to dysfunction as well as sexual disturbances and may suffer from depression (Joseph, Kenneth, Jane, Granville, Donna, 1992, pp. 101-118). Fear, anxiety and suicidal acts have always been associated with sexual abuse.
Physical child abuse also ranges from lacerations and minor bruises to severe trauma and at times even death. The worst part is that child abuse can end up extending to adulthood. Some of the effects of physical abuse on children are physical complaints. Children end up having migraines, stomachaches, gut catastrophes and other physical symptoms that are not necessarily caused by the trauma. These are usually psychomatic indicators. Abused children usually feel hopeless, exhausted and sick often. Anger that is usually inward usually result to depression. Since most of these children do not get help, they are prone to suffer in their late ages and end up abusing alcohol and drugs. Anger that is not usually expressed in the right way usually leaks to other problems. Children end up having aggressive or passive behavior. Abused children usually revenge indirectly and end up being hostile and cynic.
The abused children usually have no social life are bound to be rejected or have problems in relationships. These children always develop low esteem and profound sadness. According the American Department of Health and Human Services, rate of children abuse was 12.4 in the year 2003 and neglect represented the highest type of abuse. In US there is a system that has been established in order to respond to some reports on neglect and child abuse. Nurses should integrate the cultural factors in their profession in order to understand the needs of children who have been abused as well as the factors that result to a culture behaving the way they do. Any cases of child abuse should be addressed and reported and those children should be offered the right counseling to avoid future problems and health issues.
Abuse and violence on children have been common to most societies and most of the families do it as a form of punishment to their children. These children are bound to be adversely affected health wise and they end up suffering physically, mentally and emotionally. They ought to be offered with the right counseling in order to avoid future problems. Children who are abused are prone to be depressed, affect their future relationships and might end up dying due to health issues. Culture should be integrated in the health system to cater for this kind of abuse and children should be given counseling and advised on types of abuse in order to report such cases.
