Title
Pediatrician’s Role in Preventing Child Maltreatment
Authoring Organization
Publication Month/Year
July 22, 2024
Last Updated Month/Year
July 23, 2024
Supplemental Implementation Tools
Document Type
Consensus
Country of Publication
US
Document Objectives
Pediatricians have always seen the value of preventing health harms; this should be no less true for child maltreatment than for disease or unintentional injuries. Research continues to demonstrate that maltreatment can be prevented, underscoring the vital roles of both the family and society in healthy childhood development and the importance of strong, stable, nurturing relationships in preventing maltreatment and building the child’s resilience to adversity. This clinical report elaborates the pediatrician’s multitiered role in supporting relational health from infancy through adolescence, from universal interventions assessing for maltreatment risks and protective factors to targeted interventions addressing identified needs and building on strengths. When maltreatment has already occurred, interventions can prevent further victimization and mitigate long-term sequelae. Advice is provided on engaging community resources, including those that provide food, shelter, or financial support for families in need.
Inclusion Criteria
Male, Female, Adolescent, Child, Infant
Health Care Settings
Ambulatory, Childcare center, School
Intended Users
Nurse, nurse practitioner, physician, physician assistant, social worker
Scope
Counseling, Management, Prevention
Diseases/Conditions (MeSH)
D002649 - Child Abuse
Keywords
child abuse prevention, child abuse
Source Citation
John Stirling, Amy Gavril, Brian Brennan, Robert D. Sege, Howard Dubowitz, American Academy of Pediatrics, COUNCIL ON CHILD ABUSE AND NEGLECT; The Pediatrician’s Role in Preventing Child Maltreatment: Clinical Report. Pediatrics 2024; e2024067608. 10.1542/peds.2024-067608