Child Maltreatment

Question 1

What are the different types of maltreatment?

Answer 1

• Physical abuse
• Sexual abuse (Dads)
• Neglect - not providing basic needs (Moms)
• Emotional abuse; often verbal
• Common at all ages and cultures

Question 2

What are the origins of Child Maltreatment?

Answer 2

• 3 levels

Family level
- Parent characterstics, more important; perceptiosn of child behaviours, substance abuse, economy. Abuse more effective short term
Think worse of their child than reality is
Negative communication
Less skillful as parents
Overwhelmed
- Child characteristics: Premature, very sick, difficult temperament, over active

Community level
- Lack of social support
- Neighborhoods with problems, pvoerty or crime

Cultural level
- Approval of force and violence
- Norms for parenting

Question 3

What are som outcomes of child abuse?

Answer 3

Substance abuse
Psychological problems
Behavioral problems
Lack of social skills
Worse performance in school

Question 4

How can we prevent child maltreatment?

Answer 4

• Strategies needed at al levels
• More family social support
• Strenghten child-parent relationship and parents parenting style, build trust and change punishment types to something effective
• Nurse-Family Partnership
  Home visitation
• Zero tolerance in all cultures!
• Difficult to prove as a crime