Title: Primary Prevention of Child Abuse - American Family Physician
Headings: Primary Prevention of Child Abuse
Primary Prevention of Child Abuse
Epidemiology
Incidence of Reported Cases of Child Abuse
Consequences
Causes of Child Abuse
Risk Factors for Child Abuse
SOCIETAL FACTORS
PERSONAL FACTORS
The Path to Child Abuse
Primary Prevention Strategies
SOCIAL INTERVENTIONS
FAMILIES
Common Features of Successful Child Abuse Prevention Programs
DELIVERY OF SERVICES
What Can Physicians Do?
TREAT THE PARENTS FIRST
Strategies for Preventing Child Abuse
Prevention of Child Abuse: Information and Resources
Questions for Parents in Assessing the Risk of Child Abuse
ADVOCACY FOR CHILDREN
Final Comment
The Author
REFERENCES
Continue reading from March 15, 1999

Content: Moreover, these models also fail to account for the occurrence of different forms of abuse in one child. At the same time, these models had very little explanatory power in weighing the value of various risk factors involved in child abuse. As a result, they were not very accurate in predicting future cases of child abuse. To replace the old static model, the panel has substituted what it calls an “ecologic” model. This model considers the origin of all forms of child abuse to be a complex interactive process. This ecologic model views child abuse within a system of risk and protective factors interacting across four levels: ( 1) the individual, (2) the family, (3) the community and (4) the society. 8, 15, 16 However, some factors are more closely linked with some forms of abuse than others. 8 The factors thought to contribute to the development of physical and emotional abuse and neglect of children are listed in Table 2 and are discussed below. View/Print Table
TABLE 2
Risk Factors for Child Abuse
Community/societal
High crime rate
Lack of or few social services
High poverty rate
High unemployment rate
Parent-related
Personal history of physical or sexual abuse as a child
Teenage parents
Single parent
Emotional immaturity
Poor coping skills
Low self-esteem
Personal history of substance abuse
Known history of child abuse
Lack of social support
Domestic violence
Lack of parenting skills
Lack of preparation for the extreme stress of having a new infant
History of depression or other mental health problems
Multiple young children
Unwanted pregnancy
Denial of pregnancy
Child-related
Prematurity
Low birth weight
Handicap
SOCIETAL FACTORS
Many would argue that our society does not really value its children.