Pediatrics
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Child abuse and wife abuse are linked. Studies indicate 30% to 59% of mothers of children reported for child abuse also are battered. In homes where domestic violence occurs, the children are at increased risk of physical abuse or neglect. Children who witness battering of their mothers are at risk for psychosocial sequelae including developmental delays and posttraumatic stress disorder. ⋯ Battered mothers are rarely identified in the pediatric emergency department even though the physicians report handling a significant number of child abuse/neglect cases. Education on domestic violence, including the implications of woman battering for childrens' health, should be incorporated in the training curricula of pediatric emergency department physicians to raise awareness of the need to explore for the presence of concurrent abuse in both children and their mothers. Identifying battered women through their children will impact greatly on the welfare of both mother and child.