Child abuse & neglect
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Child abuse & neglect · Jul 2008
Comparative StudyIdentification of child maltreatment using prospective and self-report methodologies: a comparison of maltreatment incidence and relation to later psychopathology.
One of the greatest methodological problems in the study of childhood maltreatment is the discrepancy in methods by which cases of child maltreatment are identified. The current study compared incidents of maltreatment identified prospectively, retrospectively, or through a combination of both methods. ⋯ Reliance on a single method to identify childhood maltreatment incidents often overlooks many cases. Comparing both prospective case reviews and retrospective self-reports in late adolescence, the most severe cases of multiple incidents of abuse were most likely to be identified by both methodologies. The less severe maltreatment incidents were more likely to be missed, either by prospective methods or, more frequently, by self-report methods. Practitioners must be continually sensitive to possible abuse histories among their clients, seeking out information from multiple sources whenever feasible. Additionally, the potential effects of abuse disclosure on pre-existing or developing psychopathology should be considered.
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Child abuse & neglect · Jul 2008
Do chronic conditions increase young children's risk of being maltreated?
To examine whether and to what extent specific chronic health conditions place young children at risk of maltreatment. ⋯ Chronic behavioral/mental health conditions place young children at heightened risk of abuse or neglect. Early detection of mental or psychosocial health conditions is mandated by the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (IDEA), a federal law that governs how state and public agencies provide services to children with disabilities. Given the higher risk of abuse and neglect among children with behavioral/mental health conditions, clinicians should give added scrutiny to these children. Child protection agencies should also be trained to identify behavioral/mental health conditions, and more states should record disability status in their abuse records.
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Child abuse & neglect · Jun 2008
Comparative StudyComparison of computed tomography and chest radiography in the detection of rib fractures in abused infants.
Chest radiographs (CXR) are the standard method for evaluating rib fractures in abused infants. Computed tomography (CT) is a sensitive method to detect rib fractures. The purpose of this study was to compare CT and CXR in the evaluation of rib fractures in abused infants. ⋯ While this study group is small, these findings suggest that CT is better than CXR in visualizing rib fractures in abused infants.
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Child abuse & neglect · Mar 2008
Assessment of factors resulting in abuse evaluations in young children with minor head trauma.
The primary objective was to determine which of the examined factors prompted physicians to initiate a further abuse evaluation in young children with minor head injury. The recording of important historical elements in the charts of these patients was also evaluated. ⋯ Historical factors associated with injuries in young children continue to be poorly documented. Increased pediatric training for emergency medicine physicians, clinical protocols for evaluation and documentation of injured children, and regular continuing medical education on child development and its implications on mechanisms of injury for clinicians practicing in acute care settings are needed changes that may bring about improvements.
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Child abuse & neglect · Mar 2008
The Canadian child welfare system response to exposure to domestic violence investigations.
While child welfare policy and legislation reflects that children who are exposed to domestic violence are in need of protection because they are at risk of emotional and physical harm, little is known about the profile of families and children identified to the child welfare system and the system's response. The objective of this study was to examine the child welfare system's response to child maltreatment investigations substantiated for exposure to domestic violence (EDV). ⋯ There is debate in the literature about how the child welfare sector should respond to cases involving exposure to domestic violence. Contrary to conventional wisdom, this study finds that children who are the subject of investigations involving substantiated exposure to domestic violence are less likely to be removed from their home than children experiencing other forms of maltreatment. Strategies need to be developed to counter misperceptions about the intrusiveness of child welfare, and discussions need to take place about when it is appropriate for child welfare to become involved when children are exposed to domestic violence.