DAY 06 OF THE 30 DAYS CHILD ABUSE AWARENESS CAMPAIGN
In commemoration of the World Day for the Prevention of Child Abuse – November 19
Brought to you by the Centre for Total Child Development (CTCD)

CHILD NEGLET

Child neglect is deliberately, or through carelessness or negligence, failing to provide for, or secure for a child, their rights to physical safety and development. Neglect is sometimes called the ‘passive’ form of abuse in that it relates to the failure to carry out some key aspect of the care and protection of children which results in the significant impairment of the child’s health or development including a failure to thrive emotionally and socially.

Neglect includes abandonment, the failure to properly supervise and protect children from harm as much as is feasible, the deliberate failure to carry out important aspects of care which results or is likely to result in harm to the child, the deliberate failure to provide medical care or carelessly exposing a child to harm for examples can amount to neglect.

Types of Child Neglect

When you think of a neglected child, you probably think of a child without food or left at home alone for long periods of time. But neglect comes in many different forms. Here are the basic types of neglect:

• Educational neglect: Failing to enroll a child in school, allowing a child to repeatedly skip school, or ignoring a child’s special education needs

• Emotional neglect: Exposing a child to domestic violence or substance misuse, or not providing affection or emotional support

• Inadequate supervision: Leaving a child who can’t care for themself home alone, not protecting a child from safety hazards, or leaving the child with inadequate caregivers

• Medical neglect: Denying or delaying necessary or recommended medical treatment

• Physical neglect: Failing to care for a child’s basic needs like hygiene, clothing, nutrition, or shelter, or abandoning a child

Risk Factors of Child Neglect

Many parents don't set out to neglect their children. But, some parents aren't able to adequately meet a child's needs. Sometimes neglect is completely unintentional, such as the case of a young parent who doesn’t understand basic child development. They may not recognize how often their infant needs to be fed or changed.

At other times, the parents’ mental illness or substance abuse issues may prevent them from providing their children with adequate care. A parent who is under the influence of drugs may not be able to prevent their toddler from wandering outside alone.

The following factors have been found to increase children’s risk of being neglected:
• Child factors: Developmental delays
• Environmental factors: Poverty, lack of social support, or neighborhood distress
• Family factors: Single-parent households, domestic violence, or family stress
• Parent factors: Unemployment, low socioeconomic status, young maternal age, parenting stress, health issues, mental illness, or substance abuse issues

Warning Signs of Child Neglect

Often, it’s a teacher or a concerned neighbor who may recognize warning signs that a child is neglected. An underweight child who only rarely attends school or a young child who plays outside at all hours of the day without an adult in sight may raise red flags.

There are a number of signs that could indicate the possibility that a child is being neglected, including:
• Frequent absences from school
• Lacks sufficient clothing or is inappropriately dressed for the weather
• Steals or begs for food or money
• Is consistently dirty or has severe body odor
• Misuses alcohol or drugs
• Lacks needed medical or dental care, glasses, or immunizations
• States that no one is home to provide care
• Signs that a parent or caregiver may not be caring for a child adequately include:
• Irrational or bizarre behavior
• Seems apathetic or depressed
• Appears to be indifferent toward a child
• Misuses drugs or alcohol

Consequences of Child Neglect

When kids are neglected, this maltreatment impacts their overall development and health. In fact, neglect has been linked to later physical, psychological, and behavioral consequences. Even if a child is removed from a bad situation, the consequences of neglect can last for a long time and can even lead to high-risk behaviors like substance misuse.

Here's a closer look at the consequences a child who is neglected may experience:

• Health and Development Problems: Malnourishment may impair brain development. A lack of adequate immunizations and medical problems could lead to a variety of health conditions. Research shows that 50.3% of children suffered from special health care needs three years after being removed from a neglectful situation.

• Cognitive Impairments: A lack of appropriate stimulation could lead to ongoing intellectual problems. Children with a history of neglect may have academic problems or delayed or impaired language development.

• Emotional Problems: Neglect can lead to attachment issues, self-esteem problems, and difficulty trusting others.

• Social and Behavioral Problems: Children who are neglected may struggle to develop healthy relationships, and they may experience behavior disorders or disinhibited social engagement disorder. Research shows that more than half of those who were mistreated in youth were at risk of substance abuse, delinquency, truancy, or pregnancy. Nearly 75% of all child maltreatment-related deaths include neglect. Fatal incidents of neglect are most likely to occur with children under the age of 7. Neglect fatalities most often stem from a lack of supervision, chronic physical neglect, or medical neglect.


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If you know any child that is going through any form of child abuse please help the child to get help by reporting the abuse to the appropriate authority. CHILD ABUSE is all forms of physical and/or emotional maltreatment, sexual abuse, neglect, commercial or other exploitation of a child resulting in actual or potential harm to the child’s health, survival, development or dignity.

In all actions concerning the child, his or her best interest and well-being must be given paramount consideration.

The use of a child for the purpose of begging for alms, prostitution, domestic or sexual labour, as a slave or practices similar to slavery, forced or compulsory labour or for any purpose that deprives the child of the opportunity to attend and remain in school is a crime and it attracts imprisonment for a term of 10 years.

Employing any person under 18 years as domestic help outside his home or family environment is a crime that attracts 5 years imprisonment.

Anybody who has sexual intercourse with a child less than 18 years will be convicted to imprisonment for life.

Exposing or involving a child in the use of narcotic drugs or psychotropic substances is an offence liable to life imprisonment.

Every form of child abuse is a serious offence that is punishable by the law. Every child has the right to be free from every form of abuse.

Report any cases of child abuse to the Nigerian Police, Nigerian Security and Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC), National Agency for Prohibition of Trafficking in Persons (NAPTIP), your state Ministry of Women and Children Affairs or any NGO (Non-governmental Organisation) that advocates for the rights of children. If you notice any form of child abuse and you do not report, you are as guilty as the person committing the crime. Let’s join our hands to make the world a better place for children to live and grow.

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The Centre for Total Child Development, Ibadan cordially invites you to her 2021 ANNUAL CHILD ABUSE PREVENTION CONFERENCE and the Child Development in Nigeria Merit Award

THEME: Protecting Children, Promoting Healthy Families and Preserving Communities

FEATURES: Plenary Sessions | Workshops | Skill Seminars | Walk Against Child Abuse | Inter-School Child Abuse Awareness Competition | Award Presentations & Prize Giving

DATE: 19th and 20th November, 2021

VENUE: Oyesina Hall, Oke Bola, Ibadan, Oyo State, Nigeria

TIME: 9.00am prompt

PARTICIPANT: Students in secondary schools, voluntary organisations, religious institutions and orphanage homes, teachers, parents, children workers, and other stakeholders

ATTENDANCE: Attendance is FREE but registration is a MUST. To register please call/sms/whatsapp: 08180495451 or send email to emailtotalchild@gmail.com

SPONSORS & VOLUNTEERS ARE WELCOME

If you are interested in what we do, you can get involved in 3 ways:
1. Volunteer Partner: Join our vibrant team of volunteers to administer support to the children and young people coming for the Conference.
2. Resource Partner: Donate academic materials, products and other gift items to be given freely to the children and young people coming for the conference. You can also donate materials, equipment and facilities to support our cause.
3. Financial Partner: Donate fund to help us execute this Conference
For more information please contact:

CENTRE FOR TOTAL CHILD DEVELOPMENT
18, Anfani Road, Off Ring Road, Challenge, Ibadan
www.facebook.com/totalchilddev
www.instagram.com/totalchildev
Tel: 08180495451; 08101809463