CHILD ABUSE IN THE UNITED STATES 1 Child Abuse in the United States Zeineb El­Mohri Michigan Islamic Academy CHILD ABUSE IN THE UNITED STATES 2 Abstract This paper will revolve around the matter of child abuse in the United States of America. Section one will introduce child abuse and summarize the main points of this paper. The second section will provide the physical health consequences that arise from child abuse. Section three will discuss the psychological consequences pertaining to this abuse. The fourth section will contain the behavioral consequences, and the fifth will revolve around the consequences of child abuse on the society of the United States. The sixth section will detail Islam’s stance on child abuse. The seventh and final section will discuss potential means of preventing the abuse and aiding those currently facing it. CHILD ABUSE IN THE UNITED STATES 3 “Child abuse and neglect offend the basic values of our state. We have a responsibility to provide safe settings for at­risk children and facilitate permanent placement for children who cannot return home” (Gov. Matt Blunt's State of the State Speech, 2005). Child abuse is a serious problem that is rampant across the U.S. It is an urgent and detrimental issue that affects those who cannot defend themselves. In the U.S, more than four children die everyday due to child abuse and neglect and more than three million reports of child abuse involving approximately 6 million children are made every year (Childhelp, p.1). Child abuse causes many long­term physical effects as well as a plethora of psychological, emotional, and cognitive ones. Furthermore, according to the Child Welfare Information Gateway (2013a) more than half of the youth reported for maltreatment are at risk for behavioral problems. These behavioral problems have an adverse effect on society as well. Child abuse is also condemned in Islam, as is supported by a multitude of Ahadeeth (collection of recorded sayings or actions of the Prophet Muhammed [peace be upon him]). As serious of a problem as this is in this country, there are not enough methods established to combat this issue. A greater number of prevention and rehabilitation strategies regarding child abuse should be put in place in America due to its far­reaching effects on child health and development. Physical Health Consequences Multiple physical health issues may arise as a result of child abuse. Although these physical problems usually entail immediate injuries such as cuts and bruises, they may also include more severe CHILD ABUSE IN THE UNITED STATES 4 long­term conditions. Research has shown that 28% of studied children developed a chronic health condition following a history of abuse and/or maltreatment (Child Welfare Information Gateway, 2013a). Impaired brain development may appear in children who have experienced abuse. Physical harm can lead to improper growth or formation of important regions of the brain. According to the Child Welfare Information Gateway this impairment may result in speech, language, cognitive, and academic difficulties. It may also cause anxiety and constant impulsive behavior. Child abuse may also result in poor overall physical health as abused children are at a greater risk for diabetes, poor lung functioning, and obesity. It may also affect their health later on in their lives. “Adults who experienced abuse or neglect during childhood are more likely to suffer from cardiovascular disease, lung and liver disease, hypertension, diabetes, asthma, and obesity” (Child Welfare Information Gateway, 2013a). The physical consequences in relation to child abuse are severe and affect them not only in their childhood, but in their future as well. Psychological Consequences Many psychological consequences exist in relation to child abuse. Abused children have a tendency to develop low self­esteem, depression, and relationship difficulties. They also have a risk of developing borderline personality disorder and anxiety, among many other psychiatric disorders. These children also display a connection between their maltreatment and low academic achievement and cognitive difficulties (Child Welfare Information Gateway, 2013a). One of the psychological disorders abused children may face is dissociative identity disorder CHILD ABUSE IN THE UNITED STATES 5 (also known as multiple personality disorder). According to WebMD, this disorder “is an effect of severe trauma during early childhood, usually extreme, repetitive physical, sexual, or emotional abuse.” It “produces a lack of connection in a person's thoughts, memories, feelings, actions, or sense of identity”. This disconnection is believed by psychologists and medical experts to be a body’s coping mechanism “the person literally dissociates himself from a situation or experience that's too violent, traumatic, or painful to assimilate with his conscious self”. This disorder, like many other mental disorders, causes problems in the workplace, personal relationships, and day­to­day activities. In extreme cases, people who have been abused cannot adequately function from one day to the next. One of the defining features of the abused is a constant state of fear. Children in damaging households are constantly on the lookout for any unexpected attacks from their abusers. This constant stress and fear deteriorates the mind and plants the seeds of anxiety. This anxiety may lead to many difficulties in life such as an inability to focus and form strong bonds in relationships (Child Welfare Information Gateway, 2013a). Cognitive issues that may appear in abused children may be a result of impaired brain development which may be due to physical harm. Abused children may face difficulties in language, comprehension, learning, and remembering as well as having lower IQ’s than children who have not been abused or neglected. These factors may cause low academic achievement and even a need for grade repetition (Child Welfare Information Gateway, 2013a). CHILD ABUSE IN THE UNITED STATES 6 Behavioral Consequences Children who are abused also face the risk of myriad behavioral problems throughout their lives. Children who experience neglect and abuse are more likely to develop antisocial traits, attachment issues, and aggression (Perry, 2012). In academics alone they may fall behind for a multitude of reasons such as having a higher risk of truancy and grade repetition (Administration for Children and Families, Office of Planning Research, and Evaluation, 2012) . The importance of schoolwork can be diminished due to having the more pressing issue of safety constantly looming over them. Child abuse also affects sexual behavior. “Studies suggest that abused or neglected children are more likely to engage in sexual risk­taking as they reach adolescence, thereby increasing their chances of contracting a sexually transmitted disease” (Child Welfare Information Gateway, 2013, p. 5). This also makes them more susceptible to teenage pregnancy, which will not only negatively affect the young parent, but the newborn as well. Abuse is also a factor in increased drug and alcohol usage. Research consistently reflects an increased likelihood that children who have been abused will, in turn, smoke, consume large amounts of alcohol, or take illicit drugs during their lifetime (Felitti & Anda, 2009). Studies have also found a correlation between child abuse, future juvenile delinquency, and adult criminality (Gold, Wolan Sullivan, & Lewis, 2011). Abused children also have a higher risk as adults of taking their own lives. One recent study showed that “58% of suicide attempts in women can be attributed to adverse childhood experiences” (Felitti & Anda, 2009, p.6). Children who are abused, in turn, end up exhibiting abusive behavior, creating a vicious cycle (Xiangming & Corso, 2007). CHILD ABUSE IN THE UNITED STATES 7 Influence on Society Although children are the ones acutely affected by maltreatment, society is also impacted by it directly and indirectly. The cost paid for facilities related to the maltreatment of children is enormous. According to a study funded by the United States Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (2012), the lifetime cost of child maltreatment and related fatalities in 1 year totals 124 billion dollars. “Child maltreatment is more costly on an annual basis than the two leading health concerns, stroke and Type 2 diabetes” (Xiangming, Brown, Florence, & Mercy, 2012). Adverse childhood experiences increase the risk of unemployment and financial problems as well as absenteeism (Anda et al., 2004), which affects the workforce and human resources of the U.S, ttwhich, in turn, could adversely affect the economy and lead to its decline. A decrease in the abuse of children could potentially save taxpayers extremely large sums of money. According to Prevent Child Abuse America (n.d.), child maltreatment prevention strategies could save taxpayers a little over 104 billion dollars each year. Islam on Child Abuse Islam strongly deplores child abuse. The Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him) is reported to have said, “He is not one of us (the one) who does not have mercy on our young children” (Tirmidhi). He also told a man in regards to his children, "Whoever is not merciful to others will not be treated mercifully" (Bukhari). These Hadeeth (collection of recorded sayings or actions of the Prophet Muhammad [peace be upon him]) show the importance of treating children with kindness and CHILD ABUSE IN THE UNITED STATES 8 respect. Not only in his speech has he shown that mistreating children is wrong, he also explained this in his actions. He never in his lifetime as a Prophet hit or harmed a child. He was also reported to have played with children and treated them with utmost kindness. One of his close companions named Anas ibn Malik was reported to have said, “I never saw anyone who was more compassionate towards children than Allah’s Messenger (peace and blessings be upon him). His son Ibrahim was in the care of a wet nurse in the hills around Madinah. He would go there, and we would go with him, and he would enter the house, pick up his son and kiss him, then come back” (Muslim). His mercy and love extended to all children, not just the ones of his blood. One of his companion’s children said, “Allah’s Messenger used to put me on (one of) his thighs and put Al­Hasan ibn `Ali on his other thigh, and then embrace us and say, ‘O Allah! Please be merciful to them, as I am merciful to them’” (Bukhari). He was always thoughtful and caring when it came to children and would deal with them with patience and consideration. The Prophet himself said, “(It happens that) I start(ed) the prayer intending to prolong it, but on hearing the cries of a child, I shorten(ed) the prayer” (Bukhari). In another instance it was recorded that Prophet Muhammed arrived at the mosque one day carrying one of his grandchildren. Upon beginning prayer, he sat him down next to him. As the Prophet was in prostration, his grandson climbed atop his back. The Prophet stayed in this position for so long waiting for him to finish enjoying himself that many of his companions began to worry that something had happened to him. When the prayer was over they asked in concern what befallen him and he replied, “Nothing at all happened, but my (grand)son was riding on my back and I did not want to CHILD ABUSE IN THE UNITED STATES 9 disturb him until he had had enough” (An­Nisa’i). His wife Aisha (may Allah be please with her) narrated, “The Prophet took a child in his lap … and then the child urinated on him, so he asked for water and poured it over the place of the urine” (Al­Bukhari). Even when a child urinated on him and soiled his clothing he merely cleaned his garments without shouting at or severely reprimanding them. It can be learned from this that harming a child is a severe wrong and that treating them justly is of utmost importance. Solutions The possible preventive and remedial strategies are many, and can be implemented by governments, communities, and individuals. Governments and communities must provide a framework of prevention strategies and services as well as services for remediation and treatment. Public awareness campaigns can be used to inform the general public about child abuse. These campaigns can be in the form of public service announcements, brochures, and posters. Some effective uses of these campaigns can be to “promote healthy parenting, child safety, and... to report suspected maltreatment” (Child Welfare Information Gateway, 2013b, p. 3). Children should also be educated in terms of safety and protection skills, and this could be incorporated into a school’s curriculum. Parents should also have educative programs put in place in their communities to help them develop positive parental skills, learn what is considered abuse and how to abstain from exhibiting behaviors associated with it, and understand how children grow and develop. Support groups can also be made for parents to help them CHILD ABUSE IN THE UNITED STATES 10 strengthen their families. For extreme cases, shelters and crisis care programs should be available for children in emergency situations. Conclusion Child abuse is a plague upon our society. The ones that fall prey to it are the ones that cannot fight back­ the defenseless. It damages them in extreme ways and its consequences run the gamut from physical to behavioral ones. Not only does it affect the ones directly under its influence, it also manages to severely damage the society at large. Islam abhors any act that falls under the child abuse, placing a great emphasis on treating children with mercy and patience­ with the Prophet being an exemplary model of how one should act towards them. Due to the extreme harm that is caused by this abuse, governments, communities, and individuals must try their absolute best to eradicate it as well as give aid to those suffering from it. If nothing is done to stop this treachery, those being unfairly harmed will continue to be trampled underneath those whom they have no power against­ and society along with them. CHILD ABUSE IN THE UNITED STATES 11 References Abdullah, A. (n.d.). The Prophet’s compassion for children. Retrieved from http://www.missionislam.com/family/prophetscompassion.htm Ackbarali, N. (2010, August 17). SeekersGuidance ­ Explaining a hadith on disciplining children – Answers. Retrieved from http://seekersguidance.org/ans­blog/2010/08/17/explaining­a­hadith­on­disciplining­children/ Administration for Children and Families, Office of Planning, Research and Evaluation. (2012b). Adolescents with a history of maltreatment have unique service needs that may affect their transition to adulthood. Retrieved from http://www.acf.hhs.gov/sites/default/files/opre/youth_spotlight_v7.pdf American Psychological Association (n.d.). Protecting our children from abuse and neglect. 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