RT Book, Section
A1 Ports, Katie A.
A1 Fortson, Beverly L.
A2 Boulton, Matthew L.
A2 Wallace, Robert B.
SR Print(0)
ID 1182670140
T1 Child Abuse and Neglect
T2 Maxcy-Rosenau-Last Public Health & Preventive Medicine, 16e
YR 2022
FD 2022
PB McGraw Hill
PP New York, NY
SN 9781259644511
LK accessmedicine.mhmedical.com/content.aspx?aid=1182670140
RD 2024/04/24
AB Child  abuse  and  neglect  (CAN)  is  a  serious  public  health  problem  that  affects  millions  of  children  around  the  world.1,2  While  some  populations  are  more  vulnerable  to  CAN,  exposure  affects  everyone—all  races,  genders,  socioeconomic  statuses,  and  geographic  boundaries.  Exposure  to  CAN  has  far-reaching  impacts  beyond  a  single  time-period,  person,  or  generation.  CAN  is  often  associated  with  short-term  health  consequences,  such  as  broken  bones,  bruises,  and  mental  health  issues  [e.g.,  posttraumatic  stress  disorder  (PTSD),  anxiety  and  depressive  symptoms].  However,  the  science  of  brain  development,  childhood  adversity,  and  toxic  stress  demonstrate  strong  associations  between  CAN  and  longer-term  health  consequences,  including  changes  in  the  physiological  development  of  the  nervous,  endocrine,  and  immune  systems,  physical  and  mental  health  problems,  engagement  in  risky  health  behaviors,  limited  life  opportunities,  and  premature  death.3–9  Addressing  and  treating  exposure  to  CAN  is  important,  but  the  goal  in  preventing  CAN  is  clear—to  stop  this  violence  from  happening  in  the  first  place.  In  this  chapter,  we  define  and  describe  CAN  from  a  public  health  perspective,  including  both  the  magnitude  and  the  health  and  social  burden  of  CAN,  as  well  as  risk  and  protective  factors  for  exposure.  We  will  also  provide  evidence-based  strategies  for  the  prevention  of  CAN  and  prevention  implementation  considerations.