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Child Abuse and Neglect: Physical and Behavioral Indicators

INDICATORS OF POSSIBLE MALTREATMENT*

PHYSICAL INDICATORS BEHAVIORAL INDICATORS
PHYSICAL NEGLECT
  • unattended medical needs
  • consistent lack of supervision
  • consistent hunger, inappropriate dress, poor hygiene
  • lice, distended stomach, emaciated look
  • regularly displays fatigue or listlessness, falls asleep in class
  • steals food, begs from classmates
  • reports that no caretaker is home
  • frequently absent or tardy
  • self-destructive
PHYSICAL ABUSE
  • unexplained bruises (in various stages of healing), welts, human bite marks, bald spots, burns, especially cigarette burns or immersion burns (glove like)
  • unexplained fractures or abrasions
  • self-destructive behavior
  • withdrawn or aggressive behavioral extremes
  • uncomfortable with physical contact
  • complains of soreness or moves uncomfortably
  • wears clothing inappropriate for weather to cover body
SEXUAL ABUSE
  • torn, stained or bloody underclothes
  • pain or itching in the genital area
  • difficulty walking or sitting
  • bruises or bleeding in the external genitalia
  • presence of a sexually transmitted disease
  • frequent urinary or yeast infections
  • withdrawn or chronically depressed
  • overly concerned for siblings
  • problems with peers, resists involvement with peers
  • sudden massive weight change (loss or gain)
  • hysteria, lack of emotional control
  • sudden school difficulties
  • threatened by physical contact or closeness
  • exhibits inappropriate sex play or has advanced sexual knowledge
  • promiscuity
EMOTIONAL ABUSE
  • speech disorders
  • delayed physical development
  • substance abuse
  • increased severity in existing conditions, such as asthma or allergies
  • habit disorders (sucking, rocking)
  • anti-social or destructive behavior
  • neurotic traits (sleep disorders, inhibition to play)
  • passive or aggressive behavioral extremes
  • delinquent behavior
  • developmental delays

* Adapted in part from Broadhurst, D.D.; Edmunds, M.’ and MacDicken, R.A. Early Childhood Programs and Prevention Treatment of Child Abuse and Neglect, the User Manual Series..Washington, D.C.: U.S. Department of Health, Education and Welfare, 1979. Courtesy of Prevent Child Abuse Georgia.

For more information, download a complete South Carolina Community Prevention Resource Guide here.

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This entry was posted on Thursday, July 22nd, 2010 at 8:00 am and is filed under Child Abuse Prevention, Safe Kids South Carolina, Understanding and Recognizing Child Abuse. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0 feed. You can leave a response, or trackback from your own site.

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