Title: Child maltreatment
Headings: Child maltreatment
Child maltreatment
Key facts
Scope of the problem
Consequences of maltreatment
Risk factors
Child
Parent or caregiver
Relationship
Community and societal factors
Prevention
WHO response

Content: Children who experienced any form of violence in childhood have a 13% greater likelihood of not graduating from school. Beyond the health, social and educational consequences of child maltreatment, there is an economic impact, including costs of hospitalization, mental health treatment, child welfare, and longer-term health costs. Risk factors
Several risk factors for child maltreatment have been identified. Not all risk factors are present in all social and cultural contexts, and the list here provides an overview when attempting to understand the causes of child maltreatment. Child
It is important to emphasize that children are the victims and are never to blame for maltreatment. Characteristics of an individual child that may increase the likelihood of being maltreated include: being either under four years old or an adolescent
being unwanted, or failing to fulfil the expectations of parents
having special needs, crying persistently or having abnormal physical features
having an intellectual disability or neurological disorder
identifying as or being identified as lesbian, gay, bisexual or transgender. Parent or caregiver
Characteristics of a parent or caregiver that may increase the risk of child maltreatment include: difficulty bonding with a newborn
not nurturing the child
having been maltreated themselves as a child
lacking awareness of child development or having unrealistic expectations
misusing alcohol or drugs, including during pregnancy
having low self-esteem
suffering from poor impulse control
having a mental or neurological disorder
being involved in criminal activity
experiencing financial difficulties. Relationship
Characteristics of the relationships within families or among intimate partners, friends and peers that may increase the risk of child maltreatment include: