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Child NeglectBy

Celeste R. Wilson, MDJohn R. Knight, MD

Corresponding Educational Materials Reviewed by

Hoover Adger, MDJennifer Smrstik, LICSWRichard Bourne, JD, PhD

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Epidemiology• In 1996, child protective service

agencies investigated more than 2 million reports alleging child abuse or neglect.

• More than 1 million of these cases were substantiated.

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Epidemiology

Child neglect:• is the most common form of

child maltreatment

• accounts for about 2/3 of substantiated cases of child maltreatment

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Definition• The definition of child neglect

varies from state to state.

• In general, child neglect is defined as the caretaker’s failure to provide for the basic needs (e.g., food, clothing, shelter, education, safety) of the child.

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Poverty• Poverty does not constitute child

neglect.

• Differentiating poverty from willful child neglect can be extremely challenging.

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Poverty• Detailed history is needed to

understand parent’s explanation (e.g., why medication not purchased, why appointment missed)

• Must determine if limited access to resources is preventing parent from acting in the child’s best interest (e.g., no money, no transportation)

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Types of Child Neglect

• Physical neglect – failure to provide adequate food, clothing, and shelter

• Emotional neglect – failure to provide adequate social stimulation in the form of talking, love, and nurturance/affection

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Types of Child Neglect

• Medical neglect – failure or delay in seeking medical/dental care or noncompliance with medications or recommended health care

• Educational neglect – failure to send a child to school regularly

• Safety neglect – failure to provide adequate supervision

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Parental Factors Associated with Child Neglect

• Substance abuse• Depression or other mental health

disorders• Domestic violence• Unrealistic expectations of the child• Lack of social support system• Personal history of child

maltreatment

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Child Factors Associated with Child Neglect

• Prematurity

• Developmental disability

• Chronic medical condition

• Difficult temperament (e.g., crying, fussiness)

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Environmental Factors Associated with Child Neglect

• Family stressors (e.g., unemployment, illness, death of loved one, inadequate finances, divorce)

• Lack of community resources

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Signs and Symptoms• Missed medical

appointments

• Failure/delay in seeking medical care for illness

• Failure/delay in seeking dental care

• Poor growth

• Poor hygiene

• Developmental delay

• Multiple dental caries

• Untreated medical conditions

• Nonspecific behavior patterns

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Identification…can be challenging, partly because

of the complexity associated with trying to discriminate between “adequate” vs. “inadequate” care of the child.

…in many cases is subjective, which can lead to underreporting.

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Intervention• Educate parents about expectations for

appropriate pediatric health care.

• Promote parent understanding of child development through anticipatory guidance.

• Supply parents with information about community resources and support services.

• Establish a good rapport with parents and inquire about their childhood.

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Mandated Reporting• Pediatric clinicians are mandated

reporters, meaning that they are required by law to notify the state child protection agency when they suspect a child is being neglected or abused.

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Child Protection Agency• Evaluate situation

• Emphasis on child safety and protection

• Family plan

• Direct services for the parents (e.g., parenting classes, substance abuse treatment)

• Establish services for child (e.g., Early Intervention, daycare)

• Ability to offer ongoing intervention for family and child

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What can you do?• Recognize signs and symptoms of

child neglect and abuse.

• Realize that intervening benefits the child and family.

• Energize yourself to stay involved with the family even after a report to child protection services has been made.