What is Neglect?
The dictionary definition of neglect is “to disregard; to leave undone or unattended.” Child neglect is the most prevalent form of child abuse and the most lethal. Neglect refers to maltreatment by the parent or caregiver who either deliberately or by extraordinary inattentiveness allows the child to experience avoidable suffering.
Types of Neglect
Neglect is typically categorised into three forms.
Physical and medical neglect. This is by far the most common form of neglect. It includes refusing to seek appropriate and timely medical care for the child; abandoning the child; leaving him unsupervised at too young an age; and failing to provide shelter and adequate nutrition.
Educational neglect. This happens when a child is allowed to be absent from school without good reason for long periods of time; is not enrolled in school despite being of school-going age; or is deprived of special education when he clearly requires it.
Psychological or emotional neglect. This type of neglect is difficult to recognise. Parents may withhold affection as a form of discipline but neglect can result when indifference becomes the norm and parents become oblivious to a child’s psychological needs. Refusing to touch a child, ridiculing him and isolating him from his friends and family members may inflict serious emotional and psychological damage to his psyche. Parents who allow their children to use drugs and alcohol are also guilty of psychological neglect.
Occasional Neglect?
Many a time neglect occurs due to what we consider at that point of time to be situations beyond our control. Whilst awaiting the arrival of a new maid or domestic help, an older sibling may be left with the responsibility to clean and care for the younger children while we attend to matters outside our home. Granted that it is healthy for children to assume household responsibilities at an early age, they should never be forced to be parental substitutes. It is a burden they cannot be expected to shoulder.
Children are neither the property of their parents nor the helpless objects of charity. They are defended as individuals with rights and responsibilities appropriate to his or her age and stage of development.
All rights for all children (UNICEF), 2009
Incidence of Child Neglect in Malaysia
The Social Welfare Department of Malaysia recorded 1,010 child neglect and abandonment cases in 2008. This is a tremendous increase from 487 and 254 cases in year 2003 and 2000, respectively.
Statistics show that females are more likely to be subjected to neglect and abandonment than males. Of the 1,010 neglect and abandonment cases recorded in 2008, 560 involved female children. A similar pattern is seen in 2009 where data collected from January to July revealed that only 194 of the 439 recorded neglect and abandonment cases involved male children.
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