What can parent do?

Parents' Responsibilities

Parents should know the importance of quality child care and the consequences of child abuse. Child abuse has both immediate and long lasting detrimental effects on the health and wellness of victims; the common consequences are psychological distress, suicide, physical injuries, drug use, unprotected sex, etc. (Marco & Phelan, 2004).

Parents also should learn many parent characteristics may increase the risk factors of child abuse (WHO, 2010):

• difficulty bonding with a newborn
• not nurturing the child
• having been maltreated themselves as a child
• lacking awareness of child development or having unrealistic expectations
• misusing alcohol or drugs, including during pregnancy
• being involved in criminal activity
• experiencing financial difficulties.

Seeking Social Supports

If parents have difficulties to get along with their kids or they feel they have the characteristics listed above, they should seek social support immediately. This includes (WHO, 2006):

• Seeing professional nurses and social workers
• Attending training courses on child development, nonviolent discipline, and problem solving skills
• Reducing alcohol and illicit drug use

They can also go to see their family doctors and psychological therapists for help.

Stop Child Abuse

If parents are existing child abusers, either physically, emotionally, sexually abusing their kids or neglecting their kids, stop abuse at once! On one hand, terminate your abusing behaviors from now; on the other hand, seek help from your family doctors, professional nurses, or social workers.

If you ever committed sexual abuse against your kids or your abusing actions have crossed the bottom line of laws, consult a legal services professionals.

Remember, anyway, that you must stop abuse immediately; otherwise, you are on the way to a jail.

References

1. Marco, R. D., & Phelan, J. (2004). Maltreatment outcomes: Immediate and long-term. Health Canada: Strengthening the Policy-Research Connection: Health Policy Research, 9, 19-23.
2. World Health Organization. (2006). How can violence against children be prevented? Retrieved December 14, 2010, from http://www.who.int/features/qa/44/en/index.html
3. World Health Organization. (2010). Child maltreatment. Retrieved December 14, 2010, from http://www.who.int/mediacentre/factsheets/fs150/en/index.html