NCJ Number
61949
Date Published
1977
Length
0 pages
Annotation
DIAGNOSTIC TECHNIQUES FOR SUSPECTED CHILD ABUSE AND NEGLECT ARE DESCRIBED IN THIS FILM FOR PHYSICIANS, NURSES, AND PERSONNEL OF THE KANSAS SOCIAL REHABILITATION SERVICES AGENCY.
Abstract
THE KANSAS MANDATORY CHILD ABUSE REPORTING LAW RESULTED IN AN INCREASE IN REPORTED ABUSE FROM 96 CASES REPORTED IN 1972 TO OVER 5,000 CASES BEING REPORTED IN 1975. ALTHOUGH THE 'BATTERED CHILD SNYDROME' HAD PREVIOUSLY EXISTED IN KANSAS, THE EFFECT OF THE LAW INCLUDED THE INCREASED CAPABILITY OF PERSONS TO RECOGNIZE ABUSE. IRONICALLY, MEDICAL PERSONNEL TRAINED TO EXAMINE AND REPORT SUCH TRAUMA HAVE NOT BEEN THE MAJOR REPORTERS OF ABUSE. MANY MORE REPORTS HAVE BEEN MADE BY RELATIVES, TEACHERS, SOCIAL WORKERS, AND JUVENILE JUSTICE PERSONNEL. IN ORDER TO INCREASE THE SENSITIVITY OF MEDICAL STAFF PERSONNEL TO THE PROBLEMS OF CHILD ABUSE AND NEGLECT, THEY SHOULD BE MADE AWARE OF THE SPECIAL SYMPTOMS OF ABUSE. SUCH CLUES INCLUDE A DELAY BETWEEN THE TIME OF THE CHILD'S INJURY AND THE TIME THAT THE CHILD IS BROUGHT TO THE HOSPITAL FOR TREATEMENT, AND THE RETICENCE OF PARENTS BEING QUESTIONED CONCERNING THE CAUSE OF THE CHILD'S INJURY. ABUSIVE PARENTS MAY ALSO HESITATE TO GIVE CONSENT TO MEDICAL EXAMINATIONS AFTER INITIAL TREATMENT. ADDITIONAL DIAGNOSIS SHOULD BE UNDERTAKEN, ESPECIALLY FOR INJURED INFANTS, BECAUSE 5 PERCENT OF THE CHILDREN BROUGHT TO HOSPITALS HAVE BEEN VICTIMS OF ABUSE. EXAMINATIONS SHOULD INCLUDE TESTS FOR BRUISE SUSCEPTIBILITY, RETINAL HEMORRHAGE, AND SUBDURAL HEMATOMA. MALNUTRITION MAY BE DIAGNOSED BY PROVIDING INTENSIVE CASE FOR UNDERWEIGHT CHILDREN AND RECORDING THEIR RESPONSE TO TREATMENT. TREATMENT FOR THE ABUSIVE PARENTS SHOULD BE SYMPATHETIC AND SHOULD INVOLVE PSYCHIATRIC AND LEGAL ASSISTANCE. NO REFERENCES ARE PROVIDED.