Prevention of child maltreatment

Prevention of child maltreatment:

• Risk factors for child maltreatment:
  
  
  • Parent (low socio-economic status, maternal age <19 years, single parent family, non-biological parents, abused as child, substance abuse, lack of social support, unplanned pregnancy or negative parental attitude towards pregnancy).
  • Family (spousal violence, poor marital relations, poor child-parent relationship, unhappy family life).
  • Child (behaviour problems, disability).

Discuss with parents of preschoolers teaching names of genitalia, appropriate and inappropriate touch, and normal sexual behaviour for age.

Exposure to personal violence and other forms of violence has significant impact on physical and emotional well-being of children.

Assess home visit need: There is good evidence for home visiting by nurses during the perinatal period through infancy for first-time mothers of low socioeconomic status, single parents or teenaged parents to prevent physical abuse and/or neglect.
Child maltreatment interventions (USPSTF) | Bruising in suspected maltreatment cases (CPS) | Abusive head trauma (CPS) | INSPIRE: 7 strategies for ending violence against children (WHO)