Child abuse consists of different types of harmful acts directed toward children. In physical abuse, children are slapped, hit, kicked or pushed, or have objects thrown at them causing wounds, broken bones, or other injuries. Severe abuse may result in major injury, permanent physical or developmental damage, or even death. Emotional abuse involves humiliation, dishonoring or other acts carried out over time that terrorize or frighten the child. Sexual abuse consists of a wide range of sexual behavior, including fondling, masturbation and intercourse.
Sexual abuse can also involve children in pornography.
Neglect, a form of child maltreatment, involves the failure to feed or care for a child's basic needs or to adequately supervise the child. Child abuse usually is not a single act of physical abuse, neglect or molestation, but is typically a repeated pattern of behavior. A child abuser is most often a parent, stepparent, or other caretaker of a child. He or she can be found in all cultural, ethnic, occupational and socio-economic groups. Reporting suspected child abuse is difficult for providers.