Child Abuse and Neglect and its Psycho-Physical and Social Consequences: A Review of the Literature

Abstract

Child maltreatment is a complex life experience occurs when a parent or caregiver does an intentional or potential damage to a child, including acts of commission and omission. Child abuse is not an uncommon event, but it is not always recognized. Identifying the real number of maltreated children is a challenge because of the large variability in reported prevalence data across studies. Unfortunately, in the United States, it affects 1 in 8 children, by the age of 18 years, annually. Paediatricians may encounter a variety of forms of maltreatment such as neglect, emotional, physical and sexual abuse. These aspects should be recognised, examined and evaluated by employing a systematic approach and focusing on basic needs of children that may not be met. Child maltreatment is a global problem with serious life-long physical and psychological or psychiatric outcomes. It is associated with important economic and social costs (such as physical and mental health, productivity losses, child welfare, criminal justice and special education costs) due to its high prevalence and its long-term and short-term consequences. In the United States, the average cost of nonfatal maltreatment is $210,012 per children and the cost of fatal maltreatment is $1,272,900. General Practitioners are quite prepared to face the problem of child maltreatment: since they have the opportunity to meet several members of the same family, they can detect stressors that put children at risk of maltreatment. All health professionals have the responsibility to protect children from abuse and neglect.

Dentists’ self-perceived stress and difficulties when performing restorative treatment in children

“…The present studies revealed that there are no common national guidelines in use by dentists in Norway, concordant with other European studies, which may lead to uncertainty and nonreporting (105,108,116,149,(151)(152)(153)(154)(155). Regarding child maltreatment, the GPs mainly referred to Norwegian legislation, and the GDPs referred to a local guideline.…”

Enduring effect of childhood maltreatment on cortisol and heart rate responses to stress: The moderating role of severity of experiences

“…A relative consensus exists regarding the consequences of childhood maltreatment on emotional, behavioral, and social functioning during childhood and adolescence (Ferrara et al, 2016; Hunt, Slack, & Berger, 2016). Longitudinal studies have also shown that the negative impact of maltreatment may persist into adulthood and affect multiple domains of life, such as physical and mental health, intimate relationships, employment, and criminal offending (Herrenkohl, Hong, Klika, Herrenkohl, & Russo, 2013; Mersky & Topitzes, 2010; Smith, Ireland, & Thornberry, 2005).…”

Prevention and Contrast of Child Abuse and Neglect in the Practice of European Paediatricians: a Multi-national Pilot Study

“…With proper education and training, most abuse can be prevented or interrupted 13 . Data of this study showed a statistically signi cant correlation between the number of training hours completed by respondents during their medical school and residency courses and those who believe they have su cient education on CAN (p 0.002).…”