장애아동과 학대

Children with Disabilities and Abuse

장애아동학대는 전 세계적 문제이다. 본 연구의 목적은 장애아동학대의 범위와 특성을 살펴보고 이를 근거로 학대를 효율적으로 예방하기 위한 대안책을 제시하는데 있다. 이를 위해 본 연구는 국외 문헌을 검토하여 장애아동학대의 발생률과 구체적 특성을 검토하였다. 선행연구들은 장애아동이 일반아동보다 모든 유형의 학대를 더 많이 경험한다고 지적하였다. 또한 장애정도에 상관없이 모든 연령대의 장애여아와 장애남아 모두가 학대의 위험성에 노출되어 있으며, 아동학대는 한 번의 우연한 사건으로 그치지 않고 오랜 시간에 걸쳐 지속적 혹은 주기적으로 반복해서 발생하는 경향이 있음을 나타내었다. 더욱이 장애아동은 가까이 있는 친숙한 사람에게 더 많이 학대를 당하였다. 이러한 문헌분석에 근거하여 장애아동학대를 효율적으로 예방하기 위한 몇 가지 정책적 대안이 논의되었다.

Although child abuse of children with disabilities is a world-wide problem, there has been little attention to this area in Korea. The purpose of the present study was to review research on abuse and neglect of children with disabilities and to suggest practical implications. Research on the incidence of child abuse leaves no doubt that these children are at a greater risk for child abuse. Moreover, available data on child abuse demonstrates that both girls and boys with disabilities are subjected to all kinds of child abuse, that they are more likely to be abused by people who were close to them, and that they tend to be victims of multiple episodes of child abuse over protracted periods of time. Based on these results, several prevention strategies are suggested. Although child abuse of children with disabilities is a world-wide problem, there has been little attention to this area in Korea. The purpose of the present study was to review research on abuse and neglect of children with disabilities and to suggest practical implications. Research on the incidence of child abuse leaves no doubt that these children are at a greater risk for child abuse. Moreover, available data on child abuse demonstrates that both girls and boys with disabilities are subjected to all kinds of child abuse, that they are more likely to be abused by people who were close to them, and that they tend to be victims of multiple episodes of child abuse over protracted periods of time. Based on these results, several prevention strategies are suggested.