CHILD ABUSE: THE PROFILE OF THE ABUSED AND THE ABUSER

Abstract

Discipline in the Filipino culture is often carried out as a corporal punishment, if carried to the extreme would constitute as an abusive situation. The study sought to make an accurate picture of the abusive situation. Utilizing documentary research, data were gathered and profiling was done by computing the percentages. Results of the study revealed that the greater incidence of child abuse occurs most commonly in female children between the ages 12 -18 years old, in low socio-economic families and to parents whose highest educational attainment were high school level. These abuses lasted for 1 -5 years before it was reported to the proper authorities for intervention. Furthermore, the most common perpetrators of the abuses were the male neighbors followed by the female neighbors and the cohabiting husband; adults whom the parent/s entrust the care of their children. The study further revealed that the most common form of abuse was physical abuse in the form of hitting, followed by child-rape, spousal abuse in the presence of the child and verbal assault, respectively. It was concluded that child abuse damages the child not only physically but also psychologically. Furthermore, the parents' low socio-economic status contributes to the stress and trauma of the child and finally, part of the problem in abuse is the witnesses' unwillingness to get involved in the earliest possible time. The researcher recommends public education, creation of a crisis intervention program, and undertaking of a parallel study to identify the type of abuse at specific age group, examination of a ten-year data and establishment of the dynamics of abuse.