Risk Factors of Child Abuse: Individual, Relational, Community and Societal Causes - Essay Sample

Introduction

The risk factors are those features linked with child abuse and neglect, however, they might or might not be direct causes (Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, 2020). These risk factors of child abuse may involve, individual, relational, community, and societal predisposing factors that contribute to the risk of child abuse and neglect. According to the individual risk factors, children below 4 years are at great risk of being exposed to child abuse (Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, 2020). The second set of children include those who have special needs, such as disabilities, chronic physical disorders, and mental health problems. The family risk factors that result because of child abuse include; social segregation. Parental stress, poor parent-child relationships, and adverse interactions (Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, 2020). Some of the community risk factors of child abuse addressed by CDC include; community violence, and poor social interactions due to fear of the growing rate of child abuse.

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The Effects of Child Abuse if its Escalates and the Role of Health Promotion on Combating Child abuse

The effects of child abuse and neglect can be traumatizing. For over three decades, clinicians have categorized the impacts of child maltreatment as; physical, mental, cognitive, and behavioral (National Research Council, 1993). Physical consequences emanate from slight injuries to severe ones like brain damage and even death (National Research Council, 1993). Mental consequences range from mild low-self esteem to severe dissociative conditions (National Research Council, 1993). The cognitive impacts of abuse originate from attentional problems and learning conditions to chronic organic brain disorders. Behaviorally, the effects of child abuse range from lack of interaction with other children, or the development of violent behaviors towards friends (National Research Council, 1993).

In the last thirty years, limited knowledge about the immediate, and long-term health impacts associated with abuse and neglect, coupled with the advocacy efforts on behalf of victims of family violence, have inspired health experts to pay more attention on its causes, impacts, treatment, and prevention (National Research Council, 1998). This increased interest has been followed by an upsurge in the number and variety of health promotion programs. Generally, health awareness efforts in the public health system include programs designed to enhance the health of the public or special populace within a society (National Research Council, 1998). Some of the identified nursing-led preventive measures to curb child abuse and neglect include; creating supportive family contexts and social networks that will help address this problem, increasing the access to health care and social services, and promoting parental education on dangers of child abuse on their kids (National Research Council, 1998).

Reference

Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. (2020). Risk and protective factors of child abuse and neglect. https://www.cdc.gov/violenceprevention/childabuseandneglect/riskprotectivefactors.html

National Research Council. (1993). Understanding child abuse and neglect. National Academies Press. https://www.nap.edu/read/2117/chapter/8

National Research Council. (1998). Violence in families: Assessing prevention and treatment programs. National Academies Press. https://www.nap.edu/read/5285/chapter/8