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 | | Indicators of Child Abuse |
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The following may indicate the possibility of child abuse:
- Unexplained bruises or injuries, especially in places of the body that children do not normally injure during regular play or movement
- Burns which leave a pattern outlining the object which was used to make the burn, such as a cigarette, an iron or an electric stove burner, burns on the hands, feet or buttocks caused by scalding water and rope burns caused by being tied
- A child who is continually hungry, unsuitably dressed for the weather and/or always dirty
- A young child who is often left alone
- A child who is unusually aggressive, angry and hostile to other people
- A child who demonstrates withdrawn behaviour, who refuses to participate or dress appropriately for physical activities
- A child who shows unusual knowledge of sexual matters beyond their age of development, who exhibits sexualized behaviour around adults or other children
- A child who hints or talks outrightly about sexual abuse
- A child or adolescent who repeatedly runs away from home
- An adolescent who is extremely withdrawn or aggressive
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