Child Protection: Understanding Child Abuse and Neglect

Child Protection

• Child protection seeks to guarantee the right of all children to a life free from violence, abuse, exploitation, and neglect.
• Many actors are engaged in child protection, including children and youth, families, communities, government, civil society, and private organizations.

Child Abuse and Neglect

• Child abuse is any deliberate behavior or action that endangers a child's health, survival, well-being, and development.
• Child neglect is the persistent failure of a parent or adult caregiver to provide appropriate care to a child, despite being able to do so.

Types of Child Abuse

• Sexual abuse involves forcing or enticing a child to take part in sexual activities.
• Child exploitation refers to the use of a child in work or other activities for the benefit of others and to the detriment of the child's physical or mental health, development, and education.
• Child trafficking is the recruitment, transportation, transfer, harboring, or receipt of children for the purpose of exploitation.
• Violence against children is defined as all forms of physical or mental injury, abuse, neglect, or exploitation.

Key Concepts

• Fit Person: An adult who has high moral character and integrity and is capable of looking after a child.
• Loco Parentis: Acting as a parent or guardian.

Risk Factors for Child Abuse and Neglect

• Stress
• Lack of parenting skills
• Domestic violence
• Untreated mental health issues
• Lack of support or resources
• Alcohol and drug abuse

Factors that Contribute to Child Abuse

• Poverty
• Lack of parental or adult care
• Harmful gender norms
• Unemployment
• Personal history of abuse or neglect
• Child marriage (also called early marriage)

Effects of Child Abuse

• Low self-esteem and destroys children's self-confidence
• Exhibiting extremely passive or aggressive behaviors
• Difficulties with interpersonal relationships
• Poor performance in school
• Frequent nightmares
• Depression that can lead to suicide attempts
• Results in a sense of worthlessness and inadequacy
• Leaves deep psychological marks that can last a lifetime
• Severe physical damage
• Torment and feelings of shame and guilt

Child Protection System

• A collection of laws, policies, rules, and services required across all spheres of society to enable child abuse prevention and response.
• Essential components:
  • Laws and policies
  • Meaningful coordination across government departments and between sectors at different levels
  • Knowledge of and data on child protection issues and good practices
  • Minimum standards and oversight
  • Preventive and responsive services
  • Skilled child protection workforce
  • Adequate funding
  • Children's voices and participation
  • An aware and supportive public

Situation of Child Protection in Ghana's Health Sector

• The Ghana Health Service and development partners lead most of the small-scale child protection initiatives in the health sector.
• A review of the health sector's capacity and gaps revealed that the majority of health facilities in the six regions lacked the necessary resources to provide acceptable treatment.