What are the facts about child maltreatment?
Key facts. Child maltreatment is the abuse and neglect that occurs to children under 18 years of age. It includes all types of physical and/or emotional ill-treatment, sexual abuse, neglect, negligence and commercial or other exploitation, which results in actual or potential harm to the child’s health, survival,...
How can we prevent and respond to child maltreatment?
Preventing and responding to child maltreatment requires a multisectoral approach. The earlier such interventions occur in children's lives, the greater the benefits to the child (e.g. cognitive development, behavioural and social competence, educational attainment) and to society (e.g. reduced delinquency and crime).
How to break the generational cycle of family maltreatment?
Critical element to breaking the generational cycle of family maltreatment is positive relationship with therapist, friend, or spouse. When mothers who were the victims of domestic violence received training in parenting skills, their children, two years later, had fewer problems with aggression and better relationships with peers
What is classed as child abuse?
It includes all types of physical and/or emotional ill-treatment, sexual abuse, neglect, negligence and commercial or other exploitation, which results in actual or potential harm to the child’s health, survival, development or dignity in the context of a relationship of responsibility, trust or power.
Scope of The Problem
Consequences of Maltreatment
Child maltreatment causes suffering to children and families and can have long-term consequences. Maltreatment causes stress that is associated with disruption in early brain development. Extreme stress can impair the development of the nervous and immune systems. Consequently, as adults, maltreated children are at increased risk for behavioural, p...
See more on who.int
Risk Factors
Prevention
Preventing and responding to child maltreatment requires a multisectoral approach. The earlier such interventions occur in children's lives, the greater the benefits to the child (e.g. cognitive development, behavioural and social competence, educational attainment) and to society (e.g. reduced delinquency and crime). Effective and promising interventions include: 1. Parent and ca…
See more on who.int
Who Response
WHO, in collaboration with partners: 1. provides guidance for evidence-based child maltreatment prevention; see INSPIRE Seven strategies to end violence against children 2. provides evidence-based guidance to help frontline healthcare providers recognize children who have suffered from violence and neglect and provide evidence-based first line support; 3. advocates for increased in…
See more on who.int