Physical Abuse

Physical Indicators

• Injuries of varying ages particularly if these are on the part of the body where children are unlikely to get hurt by accident; underarms, back, buttocks, back of legs, ears, eyes, cheeks and mouth
• Injuries that are clearly demarcated and would appear to have different causes at different times
• Patterned injuries; cigarette marks, belt marks, bruises that follow the trace of a hand
• Fractures where there is no plausible explanation or an explanation that is inconsistent with the injury
• Burns and scalds
• Female genital mutilation

Behaviour Indicators

• Alertness to danger and behaviour that indicates a fear of being hit (this is often called ‘frozen watchfulness’)
• Wariness of physical contact
• Fearful of parent or carer; afraid to go home; aggressive and hostile behaviour
• Withdrawn and depressed
• Uncommunicative, responses in monosyllables.