Child Abuse: Harm and Solutions

Child abuse is a modality of violence against children and adolescents which remains to be comprehensively attended. The complexity of the problem implies not only the clinical manifestations (physical, sexual and psychological abuses and neglect), but also the social component (social determinants for health) as well as the judicial implication. This makes the suspicion, diagnosis, comprehensive care of each case, the physical and emotional rehabilitation of each patient, and the strategies for the prevention of this phenomenon very difficult. Undoubtedly, child abuse is fraught with enormous emotional and economic loads for the child, the family and society. In the light of the abovementioned facts, the propositions in this book lie in the presentation and development of the most frequent and known modalities of child abuse. These modalities include physical, sexual and psychological abuses and neglect, as well as other forms like fetal abuse, ethnic maltreatment, abuse among peers, bullying, and parental alienation among others that are little known or barely considered; hence, these latter issues are not frequently seen by physicians, nurses, social workers, psychologists, lawyers, etc. In addition, some preventive programs that have been successful as viable strategies in many countries of the world are proposed. The aim of this book is to give a wide vision on the knowledge concerning child abuse, based on the analysis of behaviors and attitudes and revising some new strategies ensuing from information furnished by research works. The authors are convinced that the consideration of these concepts would definitely permit the elaboration of optimum and specific management for this population.