Oral and Dental Aspects of Child Abuse and Neglect

PEDIATRICS ◽  
1986 ◽  
Vol 78 (3) ◽  
pp. 537-539
Author(s):  
Keyword(s):  
Sexual Abuse ◽  
Child Abuse ◽  
Oral Cavity ◽  
Physical Abuse ◽  
Child Abuse And Neglect ◽  
The Body ◽  
Law Enforcement Agencies ◽  
Treatment And Prevention ◽  
Stage Of Development ◽  
Abuse And Neglect

In all 50 states, physicians are required to report suspected cases of child abuse and neglect to social service or law enforcement agencies. Dentists are similarly required to report such suspected cases in most states and are allowed to report in all states; however, a minority of dentists are aware of these legal requirements.1-4 Physicians and dentists could aid in educating each other and in collaborating to increase the detection, treatment, and prevention of these disorders. Physicians typically receive limited training in dental injury and disease and thus may not detect dental abuse or neglect as readily as they do child abuse and neglect involving other areas of the body. PHYSICAL ABUSE Because craniofacial injuries occur in half of child abuse cases,3,5,6 evaluation of these injuries is essential. Some authorities believe the oral cavity may be a central focus for physical abuse because of its significance in communication and nutrition.2 The injuries are most commonly inflicted as blunt trauma with an instrument, eating utensil, hand, or finger or by scalding liquids or caustic substances. The abuse may result in ecchymoses, lacerations, traumatized or avulsed teeth, facial fractures, burns, or other injuries. Discolored teeth may result from repeated trauma.7,8 Gags applied to the mouth may leave bruises, lichenification, or scarring at the corners of the mouth. 9 Multiple injuries, injuries in different stages of healing, injuries inappropriate for the child's stage of development, and/or a discrepant history should arouse suspicion of abuse. SEXUAL ABUSE The oral cavity is a frequent site of sexual abuse in children.

Family Matters: Examining Child Abuse and Neglect as Family Dysfunction for Minority Youth Living in Extreme Poverty

2017 ◽  
Vol 32 (6) ◽  
pp. 1063-1078 ◽  
Author(s):  
Richard Spano ◽  
Michael A. David ◽  
Sara R. Jeffries ◽  
John M. Bolland
Keyword(s):  
Sexual Abuse ◽  
Child Abuse ◽  
Physical Abuse ◽  
Age Of Onset ◽  
Child Abuse And Neglect ◽  
Family Dysfunction ◽  
Minority Youth ◽  
Future Research ◽  
Childhood And Adolescence ◽  
Abuse And Neglect

Two competing models of child abuse and neglect (scapegoat vs. family dysfunction) are used to illustrate how the specification of victims (“index” victim vs. all children in household) from incidents of child abuse and neglect can be used to improve estimates of maltreatment for at-risk minority youth. Child Protection Services records were searched in 2005 for 366 “index” victims who were surveyed for 5 consecutive years (from 1998 to 2002) for the Mobile Youth Survey as well as other siblings in the household. The findings indicate that the baseline estimate of any maltreatment, sexual abuse, physical abuse, and neglect increased by 68%, 26%, 33%, and 74%, respectively, after adjusting for incidents that involved multiple victims (i.e., maltreatment as family dysfunction). In addition, the baseline estimate of more severe (indicated) incidents of physical abuse and neglect increased by 67% and 64%, respectively, after accounting for incidents that involved multiple victims, but there were no incidents of more severe (indicated) sexual abuse that involved multiple victims. Similarly, baseline estimates of age of onset (or chronicity) of maltreatment during childhood and adolescence increased by 62% and 26%, respectively. Baseline estimates for youth with 3 or more years of maltreatment and youth with 3 or more incidents of maltreatment both increased by about 71%. The implications of these findings for policy and practice as well as areas for future research are also discussed.

Safeguarding children

2021 ◽  
pp. 175573802199585
Author(s):  
Sabana Shaikh ◽  
Rubena Ali Malik
Keyword(s):  
Sexual Abuse ◽  
Child Abuse ◽  
Healthcare Professional ◽  
Physical Abuse ◽  
Emotional Abuse ◽  
Multidisciplinary Meetings ◽  
The Family ◽  
Abuse And Neglect ◽  
Psychological Harm

It is the duty of every healthcare professional to ensure they prioritise the welfare of a child by protecting them from physical or psychological harm. Forms of child abuse include physical abuse, emotional abuse, sexual abuse and neglect. A child subjected to emotional abuse or neglect can present with ambiguous symptoms, making the abuse difficult to detect. Safeguarding concerns must be acted upon according to local procedures, guided by the child safeguarding lead and the practice safeguarding policy. Safeguarding multidisciplinary meetings can be an effective way of communicating with various professionals involved with the family.

scholarly journals Reversing the 'syndrome of secrecy': Peremptory reporting obligations in cases of child abuse and neglect

2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
Mildred Bekink
Keyword(s):  
Child Abuse ◽  
Law Enforcement ◽  
Child Maltreatment ◽  
South African ◽  
Child Abuse And Neglect ◽  
Mandatory Reporting ◽  
Law Enforcement Agencies ◽  
Abuse And Neglect ◽  
Reporting Laws ◽  
Do So

ABSTRACT Mandatory reporting laws are a controversial mechanism that require members of particular occupations to report cases of serious child maltreatment that they encounter in the course of their work to welfare or law enforcement agencies. In April 2019 a video went viral in which a woman filmed her colleague beating toddlers at a crèche in Gauteng. The crèche was closed, and arrests were made, including of the videographer. Given extent of violence and abuse against South African children, this paper investigates whether South African law adequately provides for the liability of those compelled to report child abuse but who fail to do so, why mandated reporters fail to report abuse, and how South Africa's mandatory reporting rules should be amended to better serve their purpose.

scholarly journals Child abuse and neglect: understanding the role of a pediatric dentist

2020 ◽  
Vol 7 (4) ◽  
pp. 286-293
Author(s):  
Gunasekaran Sowndarya ◽  
◽  
Shanthala Mallikarjun Bhuthanahosur ◽  
Babu George ◽  
Vijayan Vidhya ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Child Abuse ◽  
Oral Health ◽  
Child Abuse And Neglect ◽  
Public Health Problem ◽  
The Body ◽  
Health Issues ◽  
Long Term Effects ◽  
Pediatric Dentist ◽  
Abuse And Neglect ◽  
Pediatric Dentists

Background Child Abuse & Neglect is a worldwide social and public health problem, which has a multitude of short- and long-term effects on children. Objective Pediatric dentists are often the ones who, after a pediatrician, come to identify a child abuse victim, so this article addresses the importance of the pediatric dentist in identifying the oral health issues that can be associated with child abuse victims. Data sources Web of Science, PubMed, Google Scholar were databases researched for peer review articles in indexed journals. Method Literature search was conducted and articles were selected according to the data provided regarding child abuse and neglect and the relevant data were summarized. Result Some medical providers may receive less education pertaining to oral health and dental injury that are related to abuse or neglect as readily as they detect those involving other areas of the body. Conclusion Pediatric dentists are encouraged to collaborate with pediatricians to increase the prevention and detection of child abuse and neglect in children.

Children as Victims of Parental Conflict

PEDIATRICS ◽  
1984 ◽  
Vol 74 (3) ◽  
pp. 446-446
Author(s):  
MICHAEL A. REINHART
Keyword(s):  
Child Abuse ◽  
Physical Abuse ◽  
Social Services ◽  
Child Abuse And Neglect ◽  
Active Role ◽  
University Of California ◽  
Parental Conflict ◽  
Abuse And Neglect

To the Editor.— The article by Nelson1 included particularly vivid examples of the manner in which children may become victims of parental conflict. In the experience of University of California Davis Medical Center's Suspected Child Abuse and Neglect Team, similar cases (although less severe) account for approximately 2% of the physical abuse cases reviewed. Social services agencies tend to view such occurrences as "accidents," and are reticent to provide services to such families. Physicians must take an active role in advocating that the families and children receive appropriate services.

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