Child Maltreatment
Child Maltreatment
Child maltreatment is a problem of epidemic proportions in the United States. Given the numbers of children affected by child maltreatment and the dire consequences that can develop, prompt identification of child maltreatment is crucial. Despite support of the implementation and development of protocols for child maltreatment screening by professional organizations such as the National Association of Pediatric Nurse Practitioners and American Academy of Pediatrics, little is available in the literature regarding the screening practices of pediatric nurse practitioners and other pediatric health care providers. This Continuing Education article will help pediatric nurse practitioners incorporate this vital screening intervention into their practice. Practical examples of when and how to incorporate screening questions and anticipatory guidance for discipline practices, crying, intimate partner violence (domestic violence), physical abuse, and sexual abuse will be discussed.
Child maltreatment is a problem of epidemic proportions in the United States. During 2010, approximately 754,000 children were victims of child maltreatment (U.S. Department of Health & Human Services, 2012). An estimated 1,560 children die nationally each year because of child abuse or neglect, a rate of 2.07 deaths per 100,000 children. Reports indicate that in 2010, 78.3% of victims suffered neglect, 17.6% were physically abused, 9.2% experienced sexual abuse, and 8.1% were psychologically maltreated. Additionally, 3.3 to 10 million children witness domestic violence each year. In nationally representative samples of 2,030 children and 4,053 children, Finklehor, Ormrod, and Turner (2007) and Turner, Finkelhor, and Ormrod (2010) found that 69% and 66% of the children, respectively, had experienced more than one form of child maltreatment.
Given the numbers of children affected by child maltreatment and the dire consequences that can develop, prompt identification of child maltreatment is crucial. Health care personnel were responsible for only 8.2% of the estimated 3.3 million referrals to child protective service agencies in 2010 (U.S. Department of Health & Human Services, 2012). The importance of early identification of child maltreatment led the National Association of Pediatric Nurse Practitioners (NAPNAP) to issue a position statement that supports the implementation and development of protocols for child maltreatment screening (NAPNAP, 2011). When developing protocols for child maltreatment screening, it is important to realize that any one form of child maltreatment rarely occurs in isolation. If only one form of child maltreatment is assessed, providers may fail to recognize the full burden of victimization and leave children unprotected and inadequately treated. Despite the recognition of the need to identify and intervene in cases of child maltreatment as soon as possible to decrease trauma to children, little is available in the literature regarding the screening practices of pediatric nurse practitioners (PNPs) and other pediatric health care providers, screening for child maltreatment, and psychosocial risk factors for maltreatment, including intimate partner violence. This article will help PNPs incorporate this vital screening intervention into their practice.
Abstract and Introduction
Abstract
Child maltreatment is a problem of epidemic proportions in the United States. Given the numbers of children affected by child maltreatment and the dire consequences that can develop, prompt identification of child maltreatment is crucial. Despite support of the implementation and development of protocols for child maltreatment screening by professional organizations such as the National Association of Pediatric Nurse Practitioners and American Academy of Pediatrics, little is available in the literature regarding the screening practices of pediatric nurse practitioners and other pediatric health care providers. This Continuing Education article will help pediatric nurse practitioners incorporate this vital screening intervention into their practice. Practical examples of when and how to incorporate screening questions and anticipatory guidance for discipline practices, crying, intimate partner violence (domestic violence), physical abuse, and sexual abuse will be discussed.
Introduction
Child maltreatment is a problem of epidemic proportions in the United States. During 2010, approximately 754,000 children were victims of child maltreatment (U.S. Department of Health & Human Services, 2012). An estimated 1,560 children die nationally each year because of child abuse or neglect, a rate of 2.07 deaths per 100,000 children. Reports indicate that in 2010, 78.3% of victims suffered neglect, 17.6% were physically abused, 9.2% experienced sexual abuse, and 8.1% were psychologically maltreated. Additionally, 3.3 to 10 million children witness domestic violence each year. In nationally representative samples of 2,030 children and 4,053 children, Finklehor, Ormrod, and Turner (2007) and Turner, Finkelhor, and Ormrod (2010) found that 69% and 66% of the children, respectively, had experienced more than one form of child maltreatment.
Given the numbers of children affected by child maltreatment and the dire consequences that can develop, prompt identification of child maltreatment is crucial. Health care personnel were responsible for only 8.2% of the estimated 3.3 million referrals to child protective service agencies in 2010 (U.S. Department of Health & Human Services, 2012). The importance of early identification of child maltreatment led the National Association of Pediatric Nurse Practitioners (NAPNAP) to issue a position statement that supports the implementation and development of protocols for child maltreatment screening (NAPNAP, 2011). When developing protocols for child maltreatment screening, it is important to realize that any one form of child maltreatment rarely occurs in isolation. If only one form of child maltreatment is assessed, providers may fail to recognize the full burden of victimization and leave children unprotected and inadequately treated. Despite the recognition of the need to identify and intervene in cases of child maltreatment as soon as possible to decrease trauma to children, little is available in the literature regarding the screening practices of pediatric nurse practitioners (PNPs) and other pediatric health care providers, screening for child maltreatment, and psychosocial risk factors for maltreatment, including intimate partner violence. This article will help PNPs incorporate this vital screening intervention into their practice.
Source...