Child Abuse and Neglect: The Role of the Primary Care Pediatrician

Steven Kairys

doi:10.1016/j.pcl.2019.11.001

Child Abuse and Neglect: The Role of the Primary Care Pediatrician

Pediatr Clin North Am. 2020 Apr;67(2):325-339. doi: 10.1016/j.pcl.2019.11.001.

Author

Steven Kairys¹

Affiliation

¹ Department of Pediatrics, Hackensack Meridian School of Medicine at Seton Hall, Nutley, NJ, USA; Department of Pediatrics, Jersey Shore University Medical Center, Neptune, NJ, USA. Electronic address: [email protected].

PMID: 32122563
DOI: 10.1016/j.pcl.2019.11.001

Abstract

Child abuse affects more than 10% of children in the United States. For most children it is the result of family dysfunction. Child abuse affects children from all socioeconomic classes. Pediatricians have an important role to play in prevention and early detection of abuse. There are sentinel injuries, now summarized as Clinical Prediction Rules that can guide the general pediatrician to take more definitive steps to suspect and report child abuse and neglect. Primary prevention should be part of the anticipatory guidance and support that pediatricians provide to all of their families.

Keywords: Child abuse; Child neglect; Physical abuse.

Publication types

Review

MeSH terms

Child
Child Abuse / diagnosis*
Humans
Pediatricians*
Physician's Role*
Primary Health Care*