The tell tale signs of child abuse
Child abuse could happen anywhere and at any time, often without the people closest to the child even realising what is taking place
POLOKWANE – Review spoke to Letgotsela Kanyane, who spoke on behalf of the Director of the Polokwane Childline branch, to find out what people need to look out for when they suspect a child is being abused.
Kanyane said there are many forms of abuse which children are exposed to and these include neglect, physical abuse, family violence, sexual abuse and organised sexual abuse.
Sexual abuse, however, is a complicated issue as it can be divided into touching and non-touching activities.
The non-touching activities include:
• Showing pornography to a child.
• Deliberately exposing an adult’s genitals to a child.
• Photographing a child in sexual poses.
• Encouraging a child to watch or hear sexual acts.
• Inappropriately watching a child undress or use the bathroom.
As well as the activities described above, there is also the serious and growing problem of people making and downloading sexual images of children on the internet. This is, in most cases, the start of a person setting out on a path which will end in the sexual abuse of a minor.
The 10 most telling signs of sexual abuse:
• Acting out in an inappropriate sexual way with toys or objects.
• Nightmares, sleeping problems, bed wetting.
• Becoming withdrawn or very clingy and even secretive.
• Unaccountable fear of particular places or people.
• Outburst of anger and self-harm (cutting, burning or other harmful activities).
• Changes in eating habits.
• New adult words for body parts and no obvious source.
• Talk of a new, older friend and unexplained money or gifts.
• Physical signs – unexplained soreness or bruises around genitals or mouth, sexually transmitted diseases, and pregnancy.
• Running away.
Kanyane said because there are so many signs of child abuse, it is important for people to keep in mind that noticing one of these signs does not necessarily indicate a child is being abused.
When a child displays a few of the above signs at the same time, this is when questions should be asked.
When child sexual abuse is suspected, residents are urged to contact the Polokwane Childline Polokwane branch on (015) 295 6449 or visit them at 17 Hans van Rensburg Street.You can also send an e-mail to childliner.cl@telkomsa.net.
“The most important thing to remember is that children are just that, children. They depend on us as adults to protect them.
“This means we need to seek help through the proper channels and not take matters into our own hands,” Kanyane concluded.
