The Importance of Medical Care for the Abused and Neglected

Krista L. Wells

Troy Christian High School

6 March 2019
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“Waaah, waaah, waaah!” A newborn baby announces his arrival to the world. At such a

time, most new parents are immediately filled with great joy and happiness to witness and

participate in the miracle of a baby’s birth. Others not so much. Why? Why would some not

feel or express that same kind of elation? There are various possible reasons. If the baby was

unplanned, some parents may view him as a burden or imposition on their personal priorities

and lifestyle. Others may fear they are unprepared to support a child financially. Still others

may be predisposed to neglect and/or abuse a child because they experienced mistreated as

children at the hands of their own parents. If we are surrounded by neglected and abused

children enduring pain and suffering, what can and should we do to help them? We embrace

pro-life views, yet often can do very little to help those children born into a life of despair,

lovelessness, and agony. Babies are gifts from God to mankind, and regardless of the conditions

into which they are born, they all need proper care to ensure healthy development, particularly

over their first three years.

Both in the US and internationally, significant adverse mental and emotional impacts

caused by neglect and abuse on babies have been noted from birth to three years. Sadly, the

effects of such mistreatment are noted more prevalent in international adoptions. Since 2005,

“[international] adoptions have dropped 72 percent (Montgomery et al., 2018)” A major reason

is because leaders of some foreign countries have banned or severely curtailed international

adoptions in response to skewed domestic gender demographics, as well as unfortunate

misunderstandings concerning adopting countries. For example, China came to realize their

“one-child-per-family” policy had caused a significant sex imbalance, i.e., there are currently far

fewer marriage-age females in China than marriage-age men. Russian leaders, on the other
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hand, expressed strong reservations about sending their children to the US for adoption in

response to unfounded reports that we routinely dismember adopted babies and market the

body parts. It is also a fact that child neglect is more likely to occur in single-parent homes.

Such parents often work multiple jobs and/or longer hours to keep their heads above water

financially, yet fail to give sufficient attention to meeting their child’s need for sustained proper

nurturing and care to help him grow and develop in a healthy manner. While neglect may not

involve physical harm to a child, it can still cause mental and emotional damage when a child

consistently senses no meaningful connection with, or love from caregiver(s). This can lead to

anger and depression issues as he develops. Neglect can emerge as deliberate or unintentional,

but can migrate or give rise to increasingly harmful forms of mistreatment, including mental

and physical abuse. Over time, the abuser may increasingly exert power over a helpless child in

sick and twisted ways. Interestingly enough, I find that some people are sinister enough to hurt

others, including innocent babies, just for the fun of it. They either find joy in inflicting pain on

others, or they seek revenge on those who hurt them by misdirecting their anger toward the

innocent. Parenting is no place for sadism. According to the Children’s Bureau at HHS'

Administration for Children and Families (ACF) most recent data, “74.8 percent of victims

suffered neglect either by itself or in combination with any maltreatment type” in 2016. Sadly,

“[t]he number of children experiencing neglect decreased from Fiscal Year 2015 to Fiscal Year

2016, while victims experiencing physical or sexual abuse have increased.” There is more to this

scenario than what statistics on reported abuse have captured. Even so, we must be willing to

try to change things for the better by focusing on proper nurturing of children beginning at

birth.
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If preventing child abuse and neglect is the objective, it is essential that all concerned

first achieve a thorough understanding of the key differences between what normal

development looks like, versus what it does not. Assuming a baby develops normally in the

womb, how he is treated and cared for outside of the womb matters most because it

determines how the child will approach life as they grow and mature. According to the

Peterborough Safeguarding Children Board, there are four vital areas of a child’s development:

physical, cognitive/intellectual, social, and emotional. From age one to three years, children

develop their fine-motor skills, learn how to execute tasks by themselves, increase strength and

balance, learn how to socialize reducing attachment to parents, express themselves

emotionally, and increase language skills, to name a few critical aspects of development. All of

these advancements are both essential and foundational to a healthy life for a child. Such skills

help ensure children can sustain themselves when they are older because without them, it has

proven much more difficult, e.g., for one to find/keep a job and simply live a “normal” life in

society. A child’s deficiencies in this regard often give rise to a variety of potential

inconsistencies, complications and medical challenges. Possible consequences may include

mental disabilities, medical conditions (e.g., impairments) resulting from physical abuse, effects

of over medication or maltreatment flowing from medical misdiagnosis, and poor brain

development affecting the entire body and one’s ability to function. Such conditions leave little

room or hope for an affected child to thrive. While everyone maintains some concept of what is

normal vs. what isn’t, there is clearly a lack of common knowledge or understanding among

parents hampering their ability to recognize those conditions requiring special treatment or

help for their children.

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A question that frequently arises is “Can’t the negative effects of abuse and neglect be

changed or overcome after the child matures?” Unfortunately, evidence and professional

opinions suggest they cannot. We can see the effects of childhood neglect and abuse in youths

carrying forth all the way to their adulthood. Infants are unable to express themselves clearly in

response to neglect/abuse; as such, little can be done until signs emerge. Usually, signs

manifest around grade school age, from five to twelve years of age. Kids in this age range could

experience such effects as frequent night terrors, abrupt mood swings, anxiety when left alone,

or even in play acting out sexual activities or sexual conversations (The Whole Child, 2019).

Because the abuse occurs when they are young, it will take their entire life time to address why

these actions occur. A child’s behavior is subject to constant modifications as they develop and

mature. Victims attempt to either conceal the shame they may feel in an effort to gain

acceptance by others. Unfortunately, abused victims will often share a connection with the one

who abuses them and feel the need to protect and guard the one who caused them pain. They

fear that not following orders will result in harsher treatment. Abused teenagers typically

endeavor to cope with the effects of abuse in such ways as hiding mistreatment that occurs

behind closed doors, detaching emotionally from social groups, and concealing their true

feelings under a “mask”. While it is difficult for those wishing to help these victims to note or

respond to such coping manifestations, it remains important to try in order to help prevent

further damage. Adult victims of child abuse arguably face the most significant challenge

because they have endured a sustained struggle over many years to express and cope with

their pain. The most visible evidence of abuse to spot in adult victims (as well as youth) is

physical, including: bruising, scars, recoiling from or avoiding touch. Signs of emotional/mental
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mistreatment include loss of focus, lack of motivation, and depression (niDirect, 2019). Over

time, adult victims effectively refine and perfect their coping techniques of cover-up and

facade, which complicates the tasks of recognizing when another is hurting, and seeking to help

them.

Although neglect and abuse can stem from several sources, it is usually rooted in how

parents carry out their roles and how they deal with kids. First and foremost, as Benj Vardigan

briefly explains in his article, there are families that grapple with drug addiction and alcohol

abuse where attention to these substances take precedence over treatment of another human

being. When this occurs, there are possible outbursts, anger issues, and carelessness on the

part of parents or guardians. They errantly assume they are still capable of caring for a child

but, in reality, it is quite difficult where the influence of drugs and/or alcohol is involved.

Beyond substance abusers, there are others who happen to be single parents with no support

group whose children fail to receive proper care simply by circumstance. Raising children does

in fact represent a significant financial investment / expense. When one parent is the sole

caretaker, they are often required to work long hours to just get by. Consequently, the child

receives less one-on-one interaction with, and oversight from the parent, which often gives rise

to additional and greater issues down the road. The final group of inadequate parents are those

who simply do not care about their children, or are unskilled as they may have never been

taught to be one, or simply draw on memories of bad parenting modeled by their own parents.

Commonly enough, some mothers will experience postpartum depression after birth because

of increased stress, generating an indifference towards the infant (Vardigan, 2019). Their

inexperience as a mother, or maybe even a father, introduces neglect and, later, the likelihood
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of abuse toward their child. This is why parenting classes are offered, but not all who need such

training choose to take advantage of the opportunities that can improve their parenting skills.

Whatever the case may be, there is an epidemic of failed parenting, but we can take action by

identifying those who need training, and encouraging them to take advantage of it. If one

person or family can make a difference, then so can you.

So many people suffer at the hands of an abuser at some point in their lives, yet why do

so few of concerned individuals say anything to prevent and stop these occurrences?

Prevention is one of the best ways to slow the rising incidence of neglect and abuse which

leaves affected children to struggle and suffer from the associated effects. An objective of

eradicating neglect and mistreatment of children is likely beyond our reach; however, proper

training of and support to new parents along the way will likely pay dividends in terms of relief

to children who would otherwise suffer due to malicious or inadequate parenting. Even if this is

not the case, the more knowledge a new parent(s) obtains concerning proper nurturing of

children, the better their prospects for avoiding failure and successfully raising them to become

normal, well-rounded adults. Unfortunately, abuse and neglect for some seems inevitable but it

does not bar us from pursuing meaningful action to correct or rehabilitate both the abuser and

the abused. We are trained to be responsible in our responses, even if doing so may

unintentionally hurt another. We must be guided by the person’s best interest, especially when

children are victimized by violence. I have often found a redeeming aspect about securing help

for others when they need it, even if doing so doesn’t make sense in the beginning, but will in

retrospect. As opposed to minors getting help, adults are another story. Because they are of

legal age, adults have the option of refusing advice, training, or rehabilitative programs
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designed to help them, either as perpetrators or victims of abuse. Even so, demonstrating a

willingness to listen (on the part of the victim as well as those seeking to help would be a huge

first step toward improvement. Achieving mutual trust is a critical step which may lead toward

opportunities to receive appropriate professional attention, counseling, and ultimately, healing.

Take courage and help others begin the process of healing, and then, they can mend from their

hurt of their abuser. This is not only applicable for people who struggle to cope with haunting

mistreatment from their past, but also for those in desperate need of escaping similar pain they

may experience due to their current circumstances.

With all good intentions, our society endeavors to adequately address issues of child

abuse and neglect, yet there are still so many more children that need help. In the US alone

$220 million dollars are spent caring for the neglected and abused each day -- e.g., medical

treatment, police investigations, foster care, etc. It is fair to say the US endeavors to not let

neglected/abused children remain and suffer in their current state. Yet so many hurtful actions

take place behind closed doors, beyond the watchful eyes of those who would help, that they

remain undiscovered, unreported and beyond appropriate response. As such, cycles of abuse

will likely persist, worsen, and cause even more severe damage which will be discovered much

later. Prevent Child Abuse America recommends “[i]ncreasing efforts to address social

problems such as poverty, substance abuse, and family violence which contribute to neglect”

(2019). Doing so should not only minimize poverty and issues, but also reduce collateral

damage. It makes sense that eliminating the causes of abuse and neglect would save our nation

money while providing people improved opportunities to enjoy more meaningful / “normal”

lives. But for those who have survived mistreatment, there are programs that have proven
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effective in helping parents curtail or eliminate generational cycles of child abuse and neglect.

Such programs include Nurse – Family Partnership, Early Start, and Triple P. Each of these

targets specific age or people groups in the context of the severity of the trauma (if there is

any). All three work with patients to collaborate with a professional to aid families in their

relation with the child, and to assist parents by educating them on how to care for their

children properly and recognize warning signs in their behavior and development. Resources

specializing in prevention of child neglect abuse and helping neglected/abused children are

readily available. Do not hesitate to reach out to struggling parents or kids by encouraging them

to receive the specialized attention they need.

Psalm 139:13-14 voices, “For you created my inmost being; you knit me together in my

mother’s womb. I praise you because I am fearfully and wonderfully made; your works are

wonderful, I know that full well.”Jeremiah 1:5 reads, “Before I formed you in the womb I

knew[a] you, before you were born I set you apart; I appointed you as a prophet to the

nations.” Each and every one of us reflect the image of God, our Creator. We were made to be

raised by our parents to learn how to live our lives in a God-honoring manner, then, as adults,

model the same qualities for our own children. Unfortunately, not all parents are up to the

challenge of being good parents. The prevailing epidemic of child neglect and abuse is

devastating. If we as a nation and community can help prevent this from occurring, we will

avoid costly expenditures, as well as prevent depression and mental scarring of children who

suffer at the hands of their offenders. Sometimes, it may seem a fine line exists between

parenting with discipline, and abject child neglect/abuse in our society. We focus inordinately

on our own wants and desires, but often at the expense of proper nurturing of our children.
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Jesus summarized our responsibilities in this regard to focus well beyond our own personal

interests -- specifically, by caring about others. “Love one another, as I have loved you.” This

instruction from our Lord applies to every believer. As we seek to advance His Kingdom

through use of our God-given gifts and talents, we need to do so lovingly in service to others.

Works Cited

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prevention/at-home/Pages/What-to-Know-about-Child-Abuse.aspx.

“Child Abuse, Neglect Data Released.” Children's Bureau | ACF, 1 Feb. 2018,

www.acf.hhs.gov/media/press/2018/child-abuse-neglect-data-released.

“Child Neglect.” Psychology Today, Sussex Publishers, 2019,

www.psychologytoday.com/us/conditions/child-neglect.

“How to Identify Child Abuse Ages 6-12.” The Whole Child, 17 Dec. 2018,

www.thewholechild.org/parent-resources/age-6-12/how-to-identify-child-abuse-ages-

6-12/.

“Inside Front Cover - Editorial Board.” Child Abuse & Neglect, vol. 65, 2017, doi:10.1016/s0145-

2134(17)30061-3.

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Today, Sussex Publishers, 24 Apr. 2012,

www.psychologytoday.com/us/blog/overcoming-child-abuse/201204/the-economic-

costs-child-abuse-and-neglect-in-our-country.
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Montgomery, Mark, and Irene Powell. “International Adoptions Have Dropped 72 Percent since

2005 – Here's Why.” The Conversation, The Conversation, 26 Oct. 2018,

theconversation.com/international-adoptions-have-dropped-72-percent-since-2005-

heres-why-91809.

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How the Brain Learns Best, Scholastic, 2019,

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preventchildabuse.org/resource/preventing-child-neglect/.

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