Child abuse and child neglect definition

Nurses need to understand that child abuse and neglect is categorized into sexual, physical, emotional, general neglect, severe neglect and exploitation (Child Abuse Identification & Reporting Guidelines, 2017). Sexual abuse is considered to occur in an instance when a child is coerced to commit sexual acts such as through sexual molestation, exposure deemed indecent, fondling among others. Physical abuse is willful cruelty and unjustified punishment meted on the child by another person that leads to serious bodily and physical harm. Emotional abuse is an act of inflicting mental suffering to the child that leads to disturbed behavior and emotional wellbeing (Child Abuse Identification & Reporting Guidelines, 2017). General neglect is a failure by the parent/guardian to provide basic requirements such as attention, food, clothing, and shelter while severe neglect occurs when the child’s health and wellbeing are endangered by failure to provide basic needs.

Other emotional manifestations are delayed emotional growth and development, attempted suicide and lack of attachment to the caregiver (Child Welfare Information Gateway, 2016) Behavioral manifestation will be in form of withdrawal from other children, extreme behaviors such as extreme aggression, extremely passive behavior, excessively compliant or excessively demanding. Additionally, the child may develop adult-like behavioral patterns such as playing the role of father/mother, for example, providing for other siblings and taking care of them. They may retrogress and act like a toddler e. g. throwing tantrums and thumb sucking. Other interventions to reduce abuse in the community include cognitive behavioral therapy, interaction therapy between child and the parents among other interventions (Lane, 2014). Tertiary prevention of child abuse and neglect is achieved through advocacy.

Nurses can advocate for prevention at following levels: individual child, parent, community and society levels. For instance, a nurse helping a parent meet child needs is advocating for the child at an individual level because the child may lack courage or ways of communicating their needs. At community and societal level, nurses can advocate for implementation and dissemination of high-quality home visitation and parent training programs, and in addition, advocate for more resources to enhance family’s socioeconomic security (Lane, 2014). Resources and interdisciplinary support services In Los Angeles County, The Child Abuse Prevention Centre lists four resources that an abused or neglected child can benefit from. These are Child Protective Services, Child Abuse Prevention Councils, Community Family Resource Centers and Safe Kids California Chapter (The Child Abuse Prevention Center, 2018).

Examples include Antelope Valley Partners for Health, East Side Child Abuse Prevention Council and Children's Bureau among others. An example of the treatment center is Audrey Hepburn CARES center located at Children's Hospital Los Angeles (The Child Abuse Prevention Center, 2018). Interdisciplinary support services for a child who has experienced abuse will include continuous medical attention from doctors and nurses, comprehensive mental health and developmental assessments by psychologists or psychiatrists, psychosocial support by social worker or counselor and advocacy support services through the court system by a legal team. Child Abuse Prevention (CA Dept. of Education) Child Abuse Identification & Reporting Guidelines - Child Abuse Prevention (CA Dept. of Education).  Cde. ca. pdf Lane, W. G. Prevention of Child Maltreatment.  Pediatric Clinics of North America, 61(5), 873–888.