Child Abuse Flashcards
Explain the historical significance of C. Henry Kempe’s work.
Kempe wrote a seminal paper in the 1950s documenting battered-child syndrome. At the time, child abuse was underreported and under-diagnosed by pediatricians. He presented his research, which was based on the legal and medical epidemiology of child abuse, to a conference in Chicago. A journalist reported this in the Chicago Tribune.
How many confirmed cases of child abuse occur yearly?
Roughly 690,000
What is the incidence of child abuse and neglect?
- Physical abuse: 7/1,000
- Sexual abuse: 5/1,000
- Neglect: 15/1,000
How have the rates of physical abuse, sexual abuse, and neglect changed over the last thirty yeas?
The rates of physical and sexual abuse have declined, but neglect has remained constant.
Describe the phenomenon of gaze aversion.
Health professionals often want to avoid uncomfortable confrontations, and in the world of child abuse, many opportunities to intervene are missed because of discomfort with probing deeper.
What is the key difference between those who survive abuse and do not go on to abuse children and those who do?
Typically, those who survive abuse and recognize it as abuse go on to become non-abusive parents. Those who are abused and do not see it as abuse –such as those who see the sexual abuse that happened to them as normal –are more likely to do that to children.
The Boy Scouts of America implemented what rule that led to a dramatic decrease in the incidence of abuse?
They mandated that all overnight trips must be accompanied by a parent volunteer.
Research has shown that higher levels of __________ predict better outcome in abused children.
MAO
Because so many children (more than 50%) now receive care by non-parental figures like babysitters or daycare, it’s important for physicians to _______________.
bring up the possibility of abuse to parents
What is a good way to initiate a conversation with a parent who is suspected of abusing his or her children?
Start with a positive thing: “I can see that you’re concerned about your child…”
