Understanding Physical Child Abuse: Causes and Consequences

Physical child abuse is another word for child abuse. Child abuse can be defines in more than one way, but whatever you call it, it still defines abuse at the hands of his or her caregiver. According to (http://emedicine.medscape.com) physical abuse is a form of maltreatment in which injury is afflicted on a child by the caregiver via various nonaccidental means, including hitting with a hand, stick, strap, or other object; punching, kicking, shaking, throwing, burning, stabbing, or choking to the extent that demonstrates harm results. Multifactorial nature of physical abuse refers to circumstances that may give rise to the occurrence of a child’s injury via physically abusive actions (http://emedicine.medscape.com). Children can also be

Accurately identifying a suspected child abuse case can facilitate appropriate evaluation, referral, investigation, and outcome for a child and their family. Children usually sustain abuse at the hands of a caregiver who misinterprets and responds inappropriately to the child’s behavior. For example, caregivers who had smothered, shook, or slapped their infant within the first 6 months of life were more likely to be worried about crying and believed that their infants cried excessively. Careful medical assessment, detection of suspicious injuries, and reporting of abuse may prevent further abusive trauma in infants and adults. The physician should also ensure that the child’s immediate medical and safety needs are met. Many regions do not have specialized child abuse teams and also have physicians that use their expertise in specifically child abuse. For children who do not require emergency transportation by ambulance, child protective services may facilitate transportation of a suspected child victim from one facility to another, and will assist in notifying the caregivers and law enforcement, and also provide an emergency safety plan on hospital discharge and clinic dismissal. Information regarding the child’s behavior before, during, and after injury occurred, including feeding times and levels of responsiveness, should be gathered (Kellogg, N.D.2017). Evidence

Suspected child abuse must be recognized, comprehensive and carefully examined, evaluated, and followed up on. The most important factor is to make sure that the child is immediately protected and safety is provided. The physician is responsible for reporting, documenting, and providing the necessary information and exalted his or her expertise to investigate. It is up to the medical team to prevent abuse. Finally physicians must advocate that children who have a medical or mental problem receive the appropriate services and medications and continuity of