Effects of Domestic Violence on Children’s Development on Different Stages

Effects of Domestic Violence on Children’s Development on Different Stages Regarding the issue related to domestic violence, I am going to scrutinize the effects of domestic violence on children in terms of different stages in children’s development. There are four main stages including pregnancy, infancy, childhood and adolescence. Domestic violence can be defined as the continuing crime and problem of the physical beating of a wife, girlfriend or children, usually by the woman 's male partner (Hill, 1981-2005). It is undeniable that domestic violence will have severe impacts on the victim but many of us have missed out another innocent victim – children, especially those who witness domestic violence. According to the UN Secretary-General’s Study on Violence Against Children 2006, up to 275 million children worldwide are estimated to witness domestic violence every year (Nadchatram, 2009). They are babes in the woods whom we think that domestic violence will not have pernicious repercussions on them as long as they are not the victims. In retrospect, domestic violence does have widespread ramifications on children’s development that is a burning problem which we can’t turn a deaf ear to it. Domestic violence will have effects on children’s development as early since pregnancy. Domestic violence will affect the mental and emotional state of a pregnant mother and this will indirectly harm the foetus. Abuse escalated during pregnancy not only will have a detrimental risk to the mother but also have severe impacts on the upcoming baby. It will cause poor fetal growth, miscarriage, low birth weight or even the birth of a disabled child. Prenancy is a critical period when mothers are physically and mentally unstable and they need extra care and protection. It is a very brutal act to abuse a pregnant woman. They are helpless and they can only rely on their husband but ironically is their husband who abdicated their responsibilities as a husband and

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