child maltreatment pt 1 Flashcards
Who are mandatory reporters?
Professionals required by law to report suspected child maltreatment.
What should a mandatory reporter do if they are unsure about a case?
When in doubt, make the report.
What is the child maltreatment reporting hotline?
1-800-962-2873
What are the goals of mandatory reporting?
Protect the child, prevent recurrence/escalation, provide resources for families, support families, initiate early interventions, and avoid Adverse Childhood Experiences (ACE).
What is the nurse’s role in child maltreatment cases?
Nurses are not investigators and do not determine outcomes but are crucial in identifying, preventing, and referring cases of maltreatment.
Why is child maltreatment considered an epidemic?
It has lifelong physical and mental health consequences, follows a generational cycle, and is grossly underreported.
What are the statistics on child maltreatment in the U.S. (2019)?
656,000 children experienced maltreatment, 1,840 child deaths, 61% neglect, 10% physical abuse, 7% sexual abuse, 6.1% emotional abuse, 15% multiple forms of maltreatment.
What percentage of child maltreatment cases go unreported?
An estimated 1 in 5 cases.
How can nurses help prevent child maltreatment?
Strengthen protective factors, support families, praise positive parenting, address challenging developmental stages, and reduce risk factors.
What are parental risk factors for child maltreatment?
Substance abuse, mental health issues, young age, low education/income, single parent status, multiple dependents, family history of maltreatment, social isolation, stress, unstable housing/homelessness.
What are child-related risk factors for maltreatment?
Intellectual disability, chronic illness, gender nonconformity, LGBTQ+ identity, homelessness, food insecurity, trauma exposure.
What strategies should be used when screening for child maltreatment?
Know available resources, screen every family to avoid stigma, provide early childhood education, identify and refer early.
What is physical maltreatment?
Intentional use of physical force that results in injury.
What is physical neglect?
Failure to meet a child’s basic needs, such as housing, food, clothing, education, and medical care.
What is sexual maltreatment?
Any completed or attempted sexual act or contact with a child by a caregiver, including fondling, penetration, and exposure to sexual activities.
What is emotional maltreatment?
Behaviors that harm a child’s self-worth or emotional well-being, such as name-calling, shaming, rejection, and withholding love.
What are red flags for physical maltreatment?
Burns, head injuries, rib fractures, hand injuries, patterned lesions, conflicting caretaker reports, and history inconsistent with injury.
What are historical and clinical indicators of physical abuse?
No history given, history inconsistent with injury, delay in seeking medical care, unexplained bruising or fractures, injuries in protected areas (ears, abdomen, genitals, chest, neck), intracranial or abdominal trauma.
What is abusive head trauma (shaken baby syndrome)?
Whiplash injury from shaking an infant, leading to distinct retinal hemorrhages.
Why is abusive head trauma difficult to detect?
It often lacks visible external signs and requires medical expertise to diagnose.
What behaviors are associated with emotional maltreatment?
Threatening, belittling, isolating, exploiting.
What are red flags for emotional maltreatment?
Developmental delays, bed-wetting without medical cause, frequent psychosomatic complaints, depression, anxiety, aggression, self-harm, overly compliant behavior.
