health

Child abuse refers to the maltreatment of a child, which can include
verbal or physical violence, neglect, or both. Most doctors define four
major types of child abuse:

• Physical abuse: Physical abuse includes not only direct physical
  attacks on a child (hitting, shaking, burning, striking with an
  object) but also failing or refusing to protect a child from physical
  injury.
• Emotional abuse: Emotional abuse includes repeated verbal
  shaming or cursing at a child, terrorizing the child, refusing to
  speak to the child, isolating, or rejecting the child. Some experts
  include the kidnapping of a child by a parent or other relative
  during or after a divorce.
• Sexual abuse: Sexual abuse includes exposing a child to pornography
  or adult sexual behavior as well as fondling, intercourse,
  or oral-genital contact with a child. Sexual abuse on the part of
  an adult related to the child by blood or marriage is called incest.
• Neglect: Neglect refers to omitting or refusing to provide the child
  with food, shelter, clothing, schooling, or medical care.