According to a report released by Medical News Today last year, a full 60% of healthcare professionals say they have treated an abused child, though less than half of those doctors and nurses reported the incidents to authorities.
An encouraging trend among prominent healthcare institutions is the willingness to deal proactively with such cases. Still, a disturbing number of cases are never reported, or doctors simply choose to ignore the facts of the case for fear of "getting too involved" or crossing the boundary between medicine and law.
Another important factor in the underreporting of such cases is the fact that many healthcare providers feel insecure in moving forward solely on the basis of suspicion. The Journal of Advanced Nursing found that 79% of surveyed professionals reported the need for further substantiation before they would be willing to make a claim.
Of course, the need to report child abuse is fundamentally vital to the health of the nation's children, especially when a whole host of separate issues have been widely documented as resulting from the negative effects of abuse, including substance abuse, aggressive behaviors, high-risk health behaviors, criminal activity, somatization, depressive and affective disorders, personality disorders, post-traumatic stress disorder, panic attacks, schizophrenia, and future abuse of one's own children and spouse.
Some insurers have been accused of turning a blind eye to apparent abuse in the interests of not having to admit patients and pay claims. As reprehensible as such attitudes may be, there exists a wide variety of victim support groups and health organizations charged with the duty of protecting abused children and preventing future abuse.
The U.S. Advisory Board on Child Abuse and Neglect has advocated a universal and committed effort by not only doctors, nurses, and healthcare providers but also community intervention and easily accessed social programs as the key to combating one of society's most prevalent evils.
Many of these programs can only be successfully implemented through the aid of pediatric physicians and nurses, especially the latter, who are noted as being the most likely to effectively spot and report child abuse. The advisory board advocates that physicians maintain a keen eye on injuries which seem suspect, especially in children of parents burdened with emotional, medical, financial, and social needs as these parents are the most likely to ignore or overlook the needs of their children. Physicians and nurses must therefore maintain close ties with such parents, offering support and making the knowledge of available programs commonplace throughout the healthcare system.
Child advocates are not a scarce resource and are available in virtually every community in the nation, whether they be at a local hospital, church, or school. To learn more about the reasons for child abuse and the most effective methods of prevention, visit the National Committee to Prevent Child Abuse at www.childabuse.org.
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