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Children affected by domestic violence:

  • May become violent and dangerous as a defense in the hostile environment.
  • May become delinquent (e.g. street children)
  • Have a greater risk of developing sexual problems later in life.
  • May become aggressive children, and later aggressive adults.
  • Are more likely to suffer from mental illness and substance abuse.

Violence in war

Another common form of violence arises as a result of involvement of children and adolescents in armed conflicts.  Children in war affected areas are often forced to become child soldiers; displaced from their homes, subjected to rape and other violence and commonly witness violence against others.

Experience of war by a child may inflict severe psychological wounds that can scar a child for life.  The psychological wounds can interrupt development of a child or permanently damage the brain of the child, especially among those under three years.

Violence in the media

Children are impressionable, especially the young ones below 7 years of age.  Persistent exposure to violent scenes in the media can lead to fear of becoming a victim in some children, while others may develop aggressive behavior.

In Uganda and the world over, there is a lot of violence broadcast on television, movies, and radios, including unedited pictorials of violence in newspapers.  These could lead a child to experiment what they see: e.g. use of guns leading to murder.

The impact of violence in the media may be expressed as:

  • Increase in antisocial and aggressive behavior
  • Early sex, prostitution and other sexual problems due to exposure to pornography.
  • Loss of sensitivity to violence or people suffering from violence.

What are the signs or effects of violence?
Examples of some signs of mental trauma are:

  • Excessive anger
  • Withdrawal and isolation from other people
  • Haunting memories
  • Poor concentration leading to decline in school performance or in other tasks
  • Digestive problems
  • Nightmares and sleep problems
  • Confusion and Depression

Effects of Trauma and Violence on Children and Adolescents

The World Health Organisation estimates that 40 million children aged below 15 years fall victim to violence each year.  Violence and trauma may have temporary or lifelong physical and mental effects on children and adolescents.

Violence is the intentional use of force or power, threatened or actual, against self or another person, which results in injury, death, or psychological harm or maldevelopment.  Mental (psychiatric) trauma or emotional harm is a normal response to an extremely distressing event with creation of memories about the distressful event, that are stored in structures deep in the brain.

Children are our most important resource for our future, who are supposed to be protected by their parents, communities and governments.  Unfortunately, childhood violence is reported to be increasing all over the world.  Violence and other types of trauma impact on the lives and health of children leading to unhappiness and poor ability to function productively as children and later as adults.  This [section] looks at types of violence and how they affect children and adolescents.

Domestic and Family Abuse

A child's first line of protection should be the family.  For full and harmonious development of their personality, children should grow in a family environment with an atmosphere of happiness, love, and understanding.

Domestic and community violence includes:

  • Physical abuse resulting in physical harm
  • Sexual abuse including coercion of a child to engage in any unlawful sexual activity, exploitative use of a child in prostitution or pornographic performances or actual sexual activity with a child including incest
  • Child neglect in all spheres such as health, education, emotional development, nutrition, shelter, safe living conditions or failure to protect a child from harm.
  • Emotional abuse which is failure to provide a supportive environment for a child to develop a stable and full range of emotional and social competencies.

What can you do to protect children from trauma end violence?

  • Parents, families, teachers, and other caregivers should observe the Human Rights of children.
  • Caregivers should detect effects of trauma and violence early and take children to health workers and other counselors for help.
  • The media should edit their productions and protect children from violent scenes including pornography.
  • Health workers and other child workers should endeavor to provide services to help children affected by violence to recover from experiences of violence and trauma.
  • There should be education of the general public on forms of violence, its effects, how to recognise them, and the need for help to ensure recovery.

Source: MOH-Uganda