Medical Community and Child Maltreatment

The health and economic consequences of child abuse and neglect are substantial.

Child abuse and neglect is associated with negative human, societal, and economic impacts. Children who are abused and neglected may suffer immediate physical injuries (e.g., cuts, bruises, burns, broken bones), as well as emotional and psychological problems (e.g., posttraumatic stress, anxiety).11 Child abuse and neglect can also affect broader health outcomes, mental health, social development, and risk-taking behavior into adolescence and adulthood. Strong evidence confirms that childhood violence increases the risks of injury, sexually transmitted infections, including HIV, mental health problems, delayed cognitive development, reproductive health problems, involvement in sex trafficking, and noncommunicable diseases, which, in turn, can cause damage to the nervous, endocrine, circulatory, musculo-skeletal, reproductive, respiratory, and immune systems.

Given the high prevalence of child abuse and neglect and its vast consequences, the associated economic impact is substantial. In the United States, the total lifetime economic burden associated with child abuse and neglect was approximately $124 billion in 2008.13

The fact is that no one is ultimately responsible for overseeing the care of children. It is easier to assume someone else will deal with it. As youth violence occurs at increasing rates and violent offenders have such a high incidence of abuse in their histories; if we ever hope to make a dent in the Worldwide Youth Violence Crisis; someone needs to take responsibility when the parents are not meeting their responsibility

The Research

• World Health Organization-Child Maltreatment
• CDC Essential Childhood Framework
• A Public Health Approach to Child Abuse and Neglect
• World Medical Assoication Statement about Child Abuse and Neglect