Infant maltreatment is a significant public health and social welfare issue that negatively affects the lives of countless individuals. The source of infant maltreatment cannot be attributed to one key factor, but multiple predisposing factors that involve the individual, the family/caretaker, and the community/environment. The ACEs study has verified that child abuse, neglect and persistent trauma without intervention can affect the health and development of the victim and produce lifelong physical and mental health consequences. Infants are an especially vulnerable group as evidence consistently shows that infants under one are more at risk of fatal injury, physical abuse and neglect than any other age group because they are almost totally
…show more content…
Familial environmental factors such as domestic violence, parental stress, poor parent-child relationship, substance abuse, and mental health issues increase the risk of infant maltreatment. Parental characteristics such as young age, low education, single parenthood, a large number of dependent children, and low income also increase the risk of infant maltreatment. A University of Birmingham, psychological study on the intergenerational cycle of infant maltreatment concluded that the risk factor ‘parent abused as a child’ has been demonstrated to have a direct effect on the chances of an infant being maltreated. Another study published in volume 30 issue 5 of ‘Child Abuse and Neglect’ works to reinforce preceding research demonstrating that a wide range of factors in the parental background, socio-economic and family environments affect the risk of child maltreatment. By integrating factors within a comprehensive ecological structure, researchers indicated that the most prominent risks are from socio-economic deprivation and factors from the caregiver’s …show more content…
Child maltreatment has been proven to cause vital brain regions to fail to form correctly, resulting in impaired development. These alterations in brain maturation cause long-term cognitive, lingual, behavioral issues and are linked to mental health conditions. According to a study published in the American Journal of Preventive Medicine, adults who have a history of child abuse and neglect are more likely than the general population to suffer from physical health issues such as diabetes, gastrointestinal problems, arthritis, headaches, gynaecological problems, stroke, hepatitis and heart disease (Felitti et al., 1998; Sachs-Ericsson, Cromer, Hernandez, & Kendall-Tackett, 2009; Springer, Sheridan, Kuo, & Carnes, 2007). Child maltreatment has been proven to cause vital brain regions to fail to form correctly, resulting in impaired development. These alterations in brain maturation cause long-term cognitive, lingual, behavioral issues and are linked to mental health conditions. Research shows there is an increased probability that victims of child maltreatment will smoke cigarettes, abuse alcohol, or take illicit drugs during their lifetime. The consequences of child maltreatment also place burdensome effects on the economy. The total lifetime cost of child maltreatment and related
Familial environmental factors such as domestic violence, parental stress, poor parent-child relationship, substance abuse, and mental health issues increase the risk of infant maltreatment. Parental characteristics such as young age, low education, single parenthood, a large number of dependent children, and low income also increase the risk of infant maltreatment. A University of Birmingham, psychological study on the intergenerational cycle of infant maltreatment concluded that the risk factor ‘parent abused as a child’ has been demonstrated to have a direct effect on the chances of an infant being maltreated. Another study published in volume 30 issue 5 of ‘Child Abuse and Neglect’ works to reinforce preceding research demonstrating that a wide range of factors in the parental background, socio-economic and family environments affect the risk of child maltreatment. By integrating factors within a comprehensive ecological structure, researchers indicated that the most prominent risks are from socio-economic deprivation and factors from the caregiver’s …show more content…
Child maltreatment has been proven to cause vital brain regions to fail to form correctly, resulting in impaired development. These alterations in brain maturation cause long-term cognitive, lingual, behavioral issues and are linked to mental health conditions. According to a study published in the American Journal of Preventive Medicine, adults who have a history of child abuse and neglect are more likely than the general population to suffer from physical health issues such as diabetes, gastrointestinal problems, arthritis, headaches, gynaecological problems, stroke, hepatitis and heart disease (Felitti et al., 1998; Sachs-Ericsson, Cromer, Hernandez, & Kendall-Tackett, 2009; Springer, Sheridan, Kuo, & Carnes, 2007). Child maltreatment has been proven to cause vital brain regions to fail to form correctly, resulting in impaired development. These alterations in brain maturation cause long-term cognitive, lingual, behavioral issues and are linked to mental health conditions. Research shows there is an increased probability that victims of child maltreatment will smoke cigarettes, abuse alcohol, or take illicit drugs during their lifetime. The consequences of child maltreatment also place burdensome effects on the economy. The total lifetime cost of child maltreatment and related