CHILD ABDUCTION, CHILD ABUSE
CHILD:
- A young human being below the age of puberty.
- An unborn or newborn human being.
CHILD ABDUCTION:
DESCRIPTION:
- Child abduction is the kidnapping of a child (or infant) by an older person.
OCCURRENCES:
- A stranger may kidnap a child for criminal or mischievous purposes.
- A stranger may kidnap a child (or infant) to bring up him or her as that person's own child.
- A parent removes or retains a child from the other parent's care (often in the course of or after divorce proceedings).
→ Because of the increased independence that occurs in the preschool-age child, parents are less able to provide the constant protection they once did when the child reaches this age; interventions (including teaching the child) that ensure protection are necessary.
INTERVENTIONS:
Instruct the parents to teach a child basic guidelines about personal safety that include the following:
- Do not go anywhere alone.
- Always tell an adult where he or she is going and when he or she will return.
- Say no if he or she feels uncomfortable with a situation.
- Do not talk with strangers or get into their cars.
- Do not help anyone look for a lost dog or ct and do not accept candy from a stranger.
- If lost in a store, do not wander around looking for the parents; go at once to a clerk or guard.
Children need to learn their full name, address, and parent's name.
Watch for post traumatic stress disorder in any child who has experienced an abduction.
CHILD ABUSE:
- Non accidental physical injury or the non accidental act of omission of care by a parent or person responsible for a child; includes neglect and physical, sexual, or emotional maltreatment.
DESCRIPTION:
- Neglect can be in the form of physical or emotional neglect and involves the deprivation of basic needs, supervision, medical care, or education and failure to meet a child's needs for attention and affection.
- Sexual abuse can involve incest, molestation, exhibitionism, pornography, prostitution, or pedophilia; findings associated with sexual abuse may not be easily apparent in a child.
- Shaken baby syndrome is caused by the violent shaking of an infant and results in intracranial (usually sub-dural hemorrhage) trauma; this can lead to cerebral edema and death.
ASSESSMENT:
NEGLECT:
- Inadequate weight gain
- Poor hygiene
- Consistent hunger
- Inconsistent school attendance
- Constant fatigue
- Reports of lack of child supervision
- Delinquency
PHYSICAL ABUSE:
- Unexplained bruises,burns,or fractures
- Bald spots on the scalp
- Apprehensive child
- Extreme aggressiveness or withdrawal
- Fear of parents
- Lack of crying (older infant, toddler, or young preschool child) when approached by a stranger.
- Spiral fractures without history of trauma from a ports injury.
EMOTIONAL ABUSE:
- Speech disorders
- Habit disorders such as sucking,biting, and rocking
- Psycho neurotic reactions
- Learning disorders
- Suicidal attempts
SEXUAL ABUSE:
- Difficulty walking or sitting
- Torn, stained, or bloody underclothing
- Pain, swelling, or itching of genitals
- Bruises, bleeding, or lacerations in genital or anal area
- Unwillingness to change clothes or unwillingness to participate in gym activities
- Poor peer relations
SHAKEN BABY SYNDROME:
- External signs of trauma are usually absent
- Ophthalmoscopic examination reveals retinal hemorrhages
- Full bulging fontanels and head circumference greater than expected.
INTERVENTIONS:
- Support the child during a thorough physical assessment.
- Assess injuries.
- If shaken baby syndrome is suspected, monitor the infant for a decrease in level of consciousness, which can indicate increased intracranial pressure (ICP).
- Report a case of suspected abuse; nurses are legally required to report all cases of suspected child abuse to the appropriate local or state agency.
- Place the child in an environment that is safe, preventing further injury.
- Document information related to the suspected abuse in an objective manner.
- Assess parents strengths and weaknesses, normal coping mechanism, and presence or absence of support systems.
- Assist the family in identifying stressors, support systems, and resources.
- Refer the family to appropriate support groups.
