Maab Basha
Child Neglect
Do you have children? Do you provide them with adequate care? Children are a
significant part of our life. They are a gift from God and we must protect and save them from
any harm or danger. Parents play a vital role in supporting children physically and emotionally.
In many countries the instances of child neglect have increased. Child neglect is a form of child
maltreatment. It is caused by a lack in meeting a child’s basic needs such as food, clothes,
shelter, affection, and attention. Child neglect can be emotional, physical, educational, or
medical. In my opinion, there are many causes of child neglect.
The first cause is parents who don’t understand the needs of their children. For
example, while I was working in the hospital, I saw a 7- year -old boy who came with
shortness of breath. After we took a blood sample from him, we discovered that his mother
forgot to give him several doses of his cardiac medication. The mother was careless about her
son’s health and she did not realize that she harmed her son and this could lead to death.
Parents who have a mental health problem from domestic abuse, alcohol, or drug
addiction is the second cause of child neglect. For example, if parents are addicted to alcohol,
they may be unconsciousness all the time, which leads to a deficit in caring and watching their
children. Also, addiction has led to physical abuse because parents are not able to control their
actions.
In addition, parents who have a lot of conflict between each other are another cause of
child neglect. When couples fight, it affects their children emotionally and physically. Mothers
will be disappointed and cannot give their children love, care and basic needs. For example,
I saw one case in the hospital where a five- year- old girl had poor hygiene and lice in her hair.
When I educated her mother about the importance of hygiene for her daughter’s health, she
started to cry and she told me that she always fights with her husband and that it was
negatively affecting her daughter.
The last cause is poverty and low income. Poverty is the main cause of child neglect
because parents cannot provide their children with basic needs like food or shelter, which leads
to serious problems. For example, I saw in the news that people in some countries in Africa
don’t have enough food to feed their children which can cause death due to malnutrition.
Overall, lack of awareness, abuse of alcohol and drugs, low income, or a conflict
between parents are some causes of child neglect. I feel sad when I hear about child neglect
because I am a mother and I always try to give my son the priority in my life. Parents and
governments should be involved in this serious issue and cooperate to prevent child neglect
from happening. Governments should help to treat parents who are addicted to alcohol and
drugs and make mental health services available for child neglect victims. Also, they must
spread awareness among people by holding regular clubs or conferences to educate people
about child neglect. In addition, they should support parents who have low income. I hope
that one day we can live without child neglect and that increased awareness will lead to
change.
Child Neglect
Do you have children? Do you provide them with adequate care? Children are a
significant part of our life. They are a gift from God and we must protect and save them from
any harm or danger. Parents play a vital role in supporting children physically and emotionally.
In many countries the instances of child neglect have increased. Child neglect is a form of child
maltreatment. It is caused by a lack in meeting a child’s basic needs such as food, clothes,
shelter, affection, and attention. Child neglect can be emotional, physical, educational, or
medical. In my opinion, there are many causes of child neglect.
The first cause is parents who don’t understand the needs of their children. For
example, while I was working in the hospital, I saw a 7- year -old boy who came with
shortness of breath. After we took a blood sample from him, we discovered that his mother
forgot to give him several doses of his cardiac medication. The mother was careless about her
son’s health and she did not realize that she harmed her son and this could lead to death.
Parents who have a mental health problem from domestic abuse, alcohol, or drug
addiction is the second cause of child neglect. For example, if parents are addicted to alcohol,
they may be unconsciousness all the time, which leads to a deficit in caring and watching their
children. Also, addiction has led to physical abuse because parents are not able to control their
actions.
In addition, parents who have a lot of conflict between each other are another cause of
child neglect. When couples fight, it affects their children emotionally and physically. Mothers
will be disappointed and cannot give their children love, care and basic needs. For example,
I saw one case in the hospital where a five- year- old girl had poor hygiene and lice in her hair.
When I educated her mother about the importance of hygiene for her daughter’s health, she
started to cry and she told me that she always fights with her husband and that it was
negatively affecting her daughter.
The last cause is poverty and low income. Poverty is the main cause of child neglect
because parents cannot provide their children with basic needs like food or shelter, which leads
to serious problems. For example, I saw in the news that people in some countries in Africa
don’t have enough food to feed their children which can cause death due to malnutrition.
Overall, lack of awareness, abuse of alcohol and drugs, low income, or a conflict
between parents are some causes of child neglect. I feel sad when I hear about child neglect
because I am a mother and I always try to give my son the priority in my life. Parents and
governments should be involved in this serious issue and cooperate to prevent child neglect
from happening. Governments should help to treat parents who are addicted to alcohol and
drugs and make mental health services available for child neglect victims. Also, they must
spread awareness among people by holding regular clubs or conferences to educate people
about child neglect. In addition, they should support parents who have low income. I hope
that one day we can live without child neglect and that increased awareness will lead to
change.