Child abuse, once becoming a serious socio-cultural issue, has drawn the attention of medical practitioners who serve as advocates for the community’s physical and emotional well-being. Although common for all ages, school-aged children are exposed to a higher risk of phycological abuse combined with the pressure of interaction with peers and educators. Generally, the notion of child abuse encompasses physical, emotional, sexual, medical abuse, and neglect (Mayo Clinic, 2018). Each of the aforementioned types may be recognized with the help of the following “red flags”:
- Physical abuse may be detected through injuries that cannot be explained by a child;
- Sexual abuse is recognized in child’s odd sexual behavior or knowledge, blood spots on the underwear, pregnancy, and sexually transmitted diseases;
- Emotional abuse is extremely hard to identify with certainty, but emotionally abused children tend to have mental disorders like depression, emotional detachment, or self-consciousness;
- Neglect may be spotted through such signs as poor weight or growth, lack of essential items such as hygiene items and clothing, lack of medical care, and inconsistent school attendance records (Mayo Clinic, 2018).
Nurses should also pay attention to the behavioral patterns of a child’s parents, as they may show a lack of interest in a child’s health and well-being, act aggressively towards children, or limit the child’s communication circle. Such behavior should be perceived as abusive and addressed by the corresponding services. Undeniably, some cases of a seemingly abusive practice may be misinterpreted by nurses. For example, some culturally specific health practices like coining or cupping leave visible bruises on the body (Killion, 2017). To avoid such misunderstandings, nurses are to be culturally sensitive and aware. However, if the signs prove to be abusive, nurses in my community have to address the Department of Children and Families through the Florida Abuse Hotline.
References
Killion, C. M. (2017). Cultural healing practices that mimic child abuse. Annals of Forensic Research and Analysis, 4(2), 1-4.
Mayo Clinic. (2018). Child abuse. Web.