Understanding child neglect in a gender context: a study performed in a Brazilian city

Abstract

Objective:To describe the phenomenon of child neglect and understand it in a gender context. Method: Retrospective, quantitative, and exploratory study that analyzed reports of violence by a child and adolescent protection network in a Brazilian city. The theoretical and methodological basis applied was TIPESC (Theory of Nursing Praxical Intervention in Collective Health), with a gender emphasis. Results: Neglect of children under the age of ten represents more than half the reports received over all the years studied; more boys than girls suffered neglect and 41.4% of the reports of neglect involved children under than age of three; women were identified as being solely responsible in 67.9%, and as accessories in 17.3% of the incidents reported. Conclusion: Child neglect is a complex matter, the gender subordinate status inflicted on these children and their mothers who are responsible for their care underscore the social vulnerability of this group. DESCRIPTORS INTRODUCTIONBrazil has legal provisions protecting children and adolescents from all varieties of violence, including neglect. Among many other requirements, the 1988 Federal Brazilian Constitution most particularly governs rules on citizenship and personal dignity in order to promote the wellbeing of all, with no discrimination or age limit. Its text on the rights of citizens guarantees "education, health, nourishment, work, home, leisure, security, social security, maternity and child protection, and aid for the unprotected" (1) . Brazilian public policy relating to children and adolescents is protective and promotes healthy growth and development. The Child and Adolescent Statute, enacted in 1990, establishes that children and adolescents are entitled to all inherent human rights and must be guaranteed the means for their full development. Anyone who inflicts neglect upon, or any other offense against, the integrity of, children and adolescents, shall be penalized for such act or omission (2) . Brazil's National Policy for Morbidity and Mortality through Accident or Violence confers a material role upon the health sector to deal with these offenses, without prejudice to the liability of other sectors of society, and recommends joint action with a number of different social sectors (3) . In 2001, the city of Curitiba, capital of the State of Paraná, criated the Network for the Protection of Children and Adolescents at Risk of Violence. The network's regulations (4) , drawn up in 2004, established the types and nature of acts of violence against children and adolescents susceptible to confinement in municipal institutions. It defined the categories of violence as being interfamily violence (committed by a family member inside or outside the home), extrafamily violence (occurring outside the family circle, where the aggressor could be any individual), auto aggression (including suicide and conduct regarded as threatening to the individual's physical integrity), and fetal violence (committed by a pregnant woman against the fetus or by a third p...

Professionals and interfamily violence against children and adolescents: in between legal and conceptual precepts

“…Thus, professionals are concerned not to invade into the private space of families (17) . We also emphasize the very positive conception of professionals regarding the family and their social role, even though some studies have shown that many situations of violence, abuse and neglect against children and adolescents are experienced in the family environment/household, and parents or people with intimate relationships to the family are the main perpetrators (17)(18) . Often violent or negligent acts go unnoticed by professionals who end up allowing that the violence continues to be perpetrated in the family environment, as shown in a study carried out with American doctors who consider physical punishment acceptable under certain circumstances (11) .…”

“…These results are similar to those obtained in a study conducted in England that found that the expectations regarding the mother figure go beyond caring for children; that is, they also become responsible for managing the father's and other family members' behavior (20) . For some authors, such attitudes may be guided by the social construction of gender, where men are connected to the sphere of economic and political life, while women take responsibility for the private sphere of the home, and so the caring for children shall be entirely their responsibility (18,21) . As a consequence, professional practices facing situations of interfamily violence tend to not include mothers and fathers in the intervention process, thus only being responsible for the immediate care of the victims.…”

Bases conceituais orientadoras dos programas de enfrentamento da violência contra a criança na Atenção Primária à Saúde: revisão de escopo

“…O estudo de Egry et al, (2015) Essa teoria permite compreender como cada sociedade cria determinados padrões de desgastes e fortalecimentos em função dos modos de produção e reprodução social (Fonseca, Egry e Bertolozzi, 2006). Desse modo, a visão de mundo trazida por essa teoria pode ajudar a superar as lacunas, no que tange ao reconhecimento de necessidades dos diferentes grupos sociais e a elucidação dos fenômenos sociais, como a violência.…”

“…[ (Saunders, Goodall, 1985;Carlos, Ferriani, 2016;Egry et al 2015;Egry, Fonseca, Oliveira, 2013;Barrientos, 1998;Lourenço, 2018;Fornari, 2019).…”

Limites e potencialidades da formação profissional para o enfrentamento da violência contra crianças e adolescentes

“…Al no ser una meta explicita a lograr en los objetivos sanitarios, la identificación y notificación se hace más compleja, sucediendo lo mismo que en otros países, como Francia, en donde el maltrato sigue siendo subestimado (96) . Al no haber un proceso de notificación de la violencia, es complejo saber su magnitud, en las distintas etapas del ciclo vital de niños, niñas y adolescentes, perpetuando así su invisibilidad (97,98) , quedando, de este modo, solo los datos estadísticos que corresponden a casos más graves de violencia.…”