Child Maltreatment: A Comprehensive Nursing Guide for Pediatric Patients

Vocabulary flashcards covering definitions and key concepts from the lecture notes on child maltreatment, risk factors, warning indicators, diagnostic testing, and nursing care.

Child maltreatment

A broad term that includes abuse (physical, sexual, emotional) and neglect (physical, emotional) of a child by a parent or caregiver.

Abuse

Harm or potential harm to a child from physical, sexual, or emotional acts or neglect.

Neglect

Failure to provide for a child’s basic physical or emotional needs, including physical and emotional neglect.

Predisposing factors

Factors that increase the likelihood of child maltreatment occurring.

Parental/Caregiver Characteristics

Traits that raise risk, such as young age, social isolation, low income/education, substance use, history of abuse, and lack of support.

Child Characteristics

Factors such as being 1 year old or younger, which make a child particularly vulnerable to maltreatment.

Environmental Characteristics

Contextual stressors like divorce, poverty, unemployment, inadequate housing, crowded living conditions.

Physical Abuse

Harm or pain caused by physical force or injury to a child.

Sexual Abuse

Any sexual activity involving a child, including exploitation, inducement, or coercion.

Emotional Abuse

Humiliating, threatening, or intimidating a child.

Physical Neglect

Failure to provide basic needs such as feeding, clothing, shelter, medical care, safety, or education.

Emotional Neglect

Failure to provide nurturing, affection, attention, or stimulation necessary for normal development.

Shaken Baby Syndrome (AHT)

Abusive Head Trauma caused by violent shaking, potentially leading to intracranial hemorrhage or death.

Red flag for AHT

Bruising in an infant less than 6 months of age, who is usually not mobile.

General Warning Indicators

Common signs that should raise suspicion of abuse, regardless of type.

Failure to Thrive (FTT)

Inadequate growth or weight gain that may indicate neglect or illness.

Malnutrition

Inadequate intake of nutrients leading to undernutrition.

Lack of Hygiene

Poor personal cleanliness or neglect of basic sanitary needs.

Frequent injuries

Repeated injuries that may indicate ongoing abuse or neglect.

Dull affect

Flat or listless emotional presentation observable in a child.

Bruises in various stages of healing

Bruises at different healing stages suggesting repeated trauma.

Bruising in a non-mobile person

Bruising on someone unlikely to sustain accidental injuries, such as an infant or non-ambulatory child.

Multiple fractures at various stages

Several fractures in different healing stages, often indicating repeated trauma.

Burns, lacerations

Injuries suggesting abusive mechanisms (e.g., glove/stocking burns, patterned burns).

Fear of parents

Child exhibits fear or extreme withdrawal in the presence of caregivers.

Lack of emotional response, withdrawal, aggression

Emotional disturbances such as withdrawal or aggression linked to abuse.

Self-stimulating behaviors

Repetitive behaviors (e.g., rocking) that may be associated with neglect or developmental issues.

Lack of social smile (infant)

Absence of social smiling in infancy, an indicator of possible abuse/neglect.

Extreme behaviors, delayed development, attempts at suicide

Severe psychological impact of maltreatment including regression and self-harm risk.

Caregiver behaviors (rejection, isolation, terrorizing, ignoring, verbal abuse, overpressuring)

Negative caregiving patterns that indicate an abusive environment.

STI (Sexually transmitted infection)

Infection spread through sexual contact; may be present if sexual abuse is suspected.

Difficulty walking or standing; UTI

Physical symptoms that can accompany sexual abuse or trauma exposure.

Regressive behavior

Returning to earlier behavioral stages as a response to abuse or stress.

Bloody, torn, or stained underwear; unusual body odor

Physical signs that may indicate sexual abuse.

CBC (Complete Blood Count)

Laboratory test evaluating blood components; part of diagnostic testing in suspected maltreatment.

Urinalysis

Laboratory test of urine to detect infections, blood, or other abnormalities in suspected cases.

X-ray

Imaging to detect fractures, especially in suspected physical abuse.

CT (Computed Tomography)

Imaging modality used to identify internal injuries in suspected abuse.

MRI (Magnetic Resonance Imaging)

Detailed imaging technique to assess soft tissues and brain injuries in abuse cases.

Mandatory Reporting

Legal obligation for nurses to report suspected child abuse to authorities.

Consequences of Non-Reporting

Civil and criminal penalties for failing to report suspected abuse.

Assessment (nursing)

Systematic evaluation for unusual bruising, mechanism of injury, burn patterns, head injury signs, LOC, and related findings.

Documentation

Recording interview details, injury descriptions, and using diagrams or measurements to document injuries.

Interviewing

Conducting interviews individually with the child and guardians; use open-ended, non-leading questions; communicate honestly and professionally.

Support and Intervention

Actions to ensure safety, provide emotional support, model positive parenting, and reduce guilt/shame.

Discharge and Collaboration

Planning discharge after placement decisions, coordinating with social services, and arranging safety referrals.

Open-ended questions

Questions that encourage detailed responses rather than yes/no answers.

Leading questions

Suggestive questions that guide a respondent toward a particular answer; should be avoided with children.