Child Neglect (From Child Abuse and Neglect: Guidelines for Identification, Assessment, and Case Management, P 69-74, 2003, Marilyn Strachan Peterson and Michael Durfee, eds. -- See NCJ-200932)

• NCJ Number: 200941
• Author(s): Carol Berkowitz M.D.
• Date Published: 2003
• Length: 6 pages
• Sale Source: Volcano Press, Inc
• Publication Format: Book (Softbound)
• Publication Type: Instructional Material
• Language: English
• Country: United States of America

Annotation

This overview of child neglect presents its characteristics, epidemiology (statistics), clinical presentation, pathophysiology, differential diagnosis, evaluation, imaging studies, case management, prognosis, and prevention.

Abstract

"Child neglect" is defined as "the failure to provide for the essential needs of a child." This includes the failure of a caregiver to provide food, shelter, clothing, health care, education, love, and nurturance to a child in his/her care. Neglect can also involve the exposure of a child to potentially harmful situations that can or do result in injury or harm, child abandonment, and emotional abandonment. Neglect may come to the attention of a health-care provider for a variety of reasons, including an unrelated infectious illness, an injury, growth impairment, a routine physical examination, and problem behaviors. Factors that contribute to neglect include maternal depression, parental substance abuse, maternal developmental delay or retardation, and lack of education. There are also features in the child that put additional stress on the parent-child relationship. Family features associated with neglect include absent or negative interactions between family members, poor parenting skills, and social isolation. Any child who presents with a medical condition that may be related to neglect must be thoroughly assessed for alternative explanations for observed conditions. The evaluation should include a complete medical history and a thorough physical examination that includes screening for developmental and dental problems. Laboratory tests should be conducted to diagnose and evaluate untreated and/or chronic medical conditions and to determine whether there are conditions that may be mistaken for neglect. Skeletal trauma series should be conducted for children under the age of 2 years who have signs of severe neglect. The chapter provides guidelines for case management. The listings of prevention measures are classified as primary, secondary, and tertiary. Two relevant case vignettes with follow-up questions are presented. 1 table, 8 references, and 3 resources