Author Description

Child Abuse has accompanied mankind since times immemorial. This book aims to provide a wider perspective rather than a narrow and sensational definition of child abuse. It provides background, history and definitions of child abuse. Child abuse is sketched from a global perspective; the typical sensationalism in the reporting of child abuse is highlighted. Since thinking about and dealing with child abuse can carry a heavy toll on health care workers and anyone else dealing with child abuse, a section on compassion fatigue is included. This book than discusses passive and active forms of child abuse in more detail. There are numerous types of passive child abuse that are often neglected but form a very important part of child abuse; these include child neglect, child abandonment, safety neglect and even children that don’t grow (failure to thrive). Active forms of child abuse such as physical abuse, corporal punishment, child sexual abuse, child labour, child torture and children suffering in wars are then detailed. In the final section of the book the dark side of pushing children to success is highlighted, such as child prodigies and children being pushed into competitive sports. The book ends on a positive note with providing global and sustained efforts to reduce child abuse and offering hope for the future of our children.