School-aged children are likely to be abused due to their vulnerability and dependency. Child abuse’s signs include guilt, confusion, aggression, hostility, depression, amnesia, and deviance. For emotional abuse, the child may experience a loss of self-esteem, enthusiasm, poor school performance, and loss of ability in existing developmental skills. Maltreatment can also be indicated by poor school attendance, poor hygiene, behavioral problems such as stealing, and poor grooming (Zeanah & Humphreys, 2018). If there is sexual abuse, the child may have genital pain, bleeding, pregnancy, and inappropriate knowledge of sexual behavior.
Patients are registered for abuse and neglect by evaluating signs and symptoms. Nursing diagnosis for a child that is abused and maltreated can include the following;
- Acute pain due to physical abuse as well as physical injuries.
- Malnutrition due to neglect of care.
- Poor growth or development.
- Insomnia.
- Anxiety.
- Fear.
- Social isolation.
- Trauma due to sexual molestation or rape.
- Malnutrition (Zeanah & Humphreys, 2018).
Different cultures utilize folk health remedies such as cupping, coining, and moxibustion. Such methods may create skin marks such as purpura and petechiae, which are likely to resemble physical abuse. For instance, cupping is used in part of Latin America, the Middle East, and Asia as a therapy for pain, lack of appetite, and fever (Viero et al., 2019). Russian immigrants in the United States are also known to use cupping. Vietnamese Americans practice coining or cao gio to cure headaches and fever. A similar method known as Quat sha is used by Chinese Americans to free the body from illnesses. These procedures can cause burns and bruises on the skin, which can be signs of physical abuse (Viero et al., 2019). Nurses should understand and familiarize themselves with different cultural practices to reduce misdiagnoses.
In Illinois, the reporting process requires calling and informing the Department of Children and Family services about any suspected child abuse or neglect. This can be done by calling Child Abuse Hotline if one suspects any child has experienced abuse or neglect (Illinois Department of Children and Family Services). Nurses are mandated to report abuse and maltreatment, which means they have the responsibility to do so if they find any suspicious details (Mudrick et al., 2022). They are expected to assess full details of the situation, analyze facts, obtain evidence such as photos and collect information from parents and caregivers. In emergency situations, anyone can call and report the case of a child abuse.
References
Illinois Department of Children and Family Services. (n.d.). Reporting abuse or neglect. Illinois government.
Mudrick, N. R., Blackwell, J., Watts, C., Smith, C. J., Williams, A., Nielsen, K. A., & Clark, L. (2022). How do states inform nurses of their policies for mandatory reporting of child maltreatment?Policy, Politics, & Nursing Practice, 23(2), 109-117.
Viero, A., Amadasi, A., Blandino, A., Kustermann, A., Montisci, M., & Cattaneo, C. (2019). Skin lesions and traditional folk practices: A medico-legal perspective.Forensic Science, Medicine and Pathology, 15(4), 580-590.
Zeanah, C. H., & Humphreys, K. L. (2018). Child abuse and neglect. Journal of the American Academy of Child & Adolescent Psychiatry, 57(9), 637-644.