NCJ Number
38826
Date Published
1976
Length
16 pages
Annotation
A REVIEW OF THE LITERATURE ON CHILD ABUSE EXAMINES ITS DEFINITION, DIAGNOSIS, HISTORICAL PERSPECTIVES, ETIOLOGY, OUTCOME, AND TREATMENT.
Abstract
MANY AUTHORS FEEL THAT THE TRADITIONAL VIEW OF THE 'BATTERED CHILD' AS ONE WHO RECEIVES NONACCIDENTAL PHYSICAL INJURY DUE TO ACTS OR OMISSIONS ON THE PART OF PARENTS OR GUARDIANS SHOULD BE EXPANDED TO INCLUDE EMOTIONAL AND NUTRITIONAL DEPRIVATION, NEGLECT, AND BOTH PHYSICAL AND SEXUAL ABUSE. THIS 'MALTREATMENT SYNDROME' ACKNOWLEDGES THAT ABUSE NEED NOT BE WILLFUL AND THAT CHILD ABUSE REPRESENTS PUNISHMENT-ABUSE, ACCIDENT-ABUSE, AND NEGLECT-ABUSE. CLINICAL SIGNS WHICH MAY LEAD TO A DIAGNOSIS OF CHILD ABUSE INCLUDE THE FOLLOWING: (1) PARENTS' HISTORY OF THE EVENT AT VARIANCE WITH THE CLINICAL FINDING; (2) RELUCTANCE OF PARENTS TO DIVULGE INFORMATION; (3) CHILD BROUGHT TO PHYSICIAN WITH COMPLAINTS OTHER THAN THE ABUSE; (4) PARENTS' INAPPROPRIATE REACTION TO THE SEVERITY OF THE INJURY, EITHER APATHETIC OR OVERRESPONSIVE; (5) INCONSISTENT SOCIAL HISTORIES; (6) PARENTS' AGGRESSIVE OR ABUSIVE BEHAVIOR WHEN QUESTIONED ABOUT PROBLEMS CONCERNING THE CHILD; (7) DATE OF INJURY PRIOR TO EXAMINATION; (8) MULTIPLE VISITS TO VARIOUS MEDICAL FACILITIES; AND (9) FAMILY DISCORD, FINANCIAL STRESS, ALCOHOLISM, PSYCHOSIS, ETC. HISTORICALLY, CHILD ABUSE HAS RANGED FROM INFANTICIDE TO CORPORAL PUNISHMENT IN SCHOOLS AND HOMES FOR DISCIPLINARY PURPOSES AND OUTRIGHT SLAVERY. IT WAS NOT UNTIL THE LATE NINETEENTH CENTURY THAT CHILD PROTECTION ASSOCIATIONS AND LEGISLATION BEGAN TO APPEAR. CONTEMPORARY PSYCHOLOGISTS HAVE IDENTIFIED THREE FACTORS WHICH MUST BE PRESENT IN ORDER FOR AN ADULT TO MALTREAT AND ABUSE A CHILD: THE POTENTIAL FOR ABUSE; A CRISIS OR SERIES OF CRISES; AND A SPECIAL CHILD. THE ETIOLOGY OF CHILD ABUSE, HOWEVER, CANNOT BE LIMITED TO A PSYCHOPATHOLOGICAL MODEL, A SOCIOECONOMIC MODEL, OR A CULTURAL MODEL. LONG-TERM SEQUELAE OF ABUSE UPON CHILDREN INCLUDE NEUROLOGICAL IMPAIRMENT, MENTAL RETARDATION, AND LANGUAGE RETARDATION, AS WELL AS A HIGHER INCIDENCE OF JUVENILE DELINQUENCY. TREATMENT IN THE PAST CENTERED AROUND CRIMINAL PROSECUTION AND INCARCERATION OF THE ABUSING PARENT; MODERN METHODS INVOLVE INDIVIDUAL AND GROUP THERAPY, MULTIDISCIPLINARY TEAMS OF COUNSELORS, PARENT'S AIDES OR FOSTER GRANDPARENTS, HOMEMAKER SERVICES, AND PARENT ANONYMOUS. INHERENT TO THE GOAL OF AIDING PARENTS IN MAINTAINING THEIR PARENTAL RESPONSIBILITIES AND ENSURING A SAFE ENVIRONMENT FOR THE GROWTH AND DEVELOPMENT OF THEIR CHILDREN ARE THE NEED FOR EDUCATION IN PARENTING; COMMUNITY EDUCATION ABOUT ABUSE AND NEGLECT; A CHANGE IN ATTITUDES ABOUT WORKING MOTHERS; AND THE DEVELOPMENT OF DAYCARE CENTERS, NURSERIES, AND COMMUNITY CRISIS INTERVENTION CENTERS. A LIST OF REFERENCES IS PROVIDED. (DAS)