Child Abuse and Maltreatment in Infants. According to World health organization, infants have the highest risk of child abuse more than the other ages. This abuse is always determined and influenced by social, economic and cultural practices. Infants are usually predisposed to various types of abuse which includes neglect and physical abuse.
The nurse ought to be vigilant to note the warning signs and physical and emotional signs and symptoms that can indicate child abuse. These may include bruises or cuts and bulging fontanels or separated fontanels. The symptoms may encompass inability to be consoled or nursed, uncontrollable crying, convulsions, vomiting more than the usual expectations and substantial changes in the sleeping patterns or the inability to get awakened from sleep (Stoltenborgh et al., 2015). In the case of neglect, the nurse can look for severe malnourishment and dirty clothes,
The nurse ought to recognize the various cultural practices that can be misinterpreted as child abuse as this may lead to mislabeling of culture. This can be attained by involving the primary care providers to be aware of the practices and their relationship to health. The practices may entail coining to treat illnesses, cupping, and moxibustion.
The reporting mechanism of child abuse in the state of Pennsylvania tales the form of two tracks about the child welfare. These tracks encompass the Child Protective Services and General Protective Services. When a referral for potential child abuse is made via a call, the task is assigned to either of the two agencies and investigation done immediately or within 3 hours (Goldman & Evans, 2015). The reporting rests to all the care providers that provides services to the infants either as parents, family members, baby care centers as well as healthcare providers who treat the patients. The nurse has the responsibility to report a suspected case of child abuse in the routine assessment of the child during the clinical. In the case of neurological conditions such as pediatric abusive head trauma need to be reported immediately. All the care providers who fail to report child abuse are guilty of demeanor.
References
Goldman, S., & Evans, N. (2015). Child Abuse Recognition and Reporting in Pennsylvania (3
Hours).
Stoltenborgh, M., Bakermans‐Kranenburg, M. J., Alink, L. R., & IJzendoorn, M. H. (2015). The
prevalence of child maltreatment across the globe: Review of a series of meta‐
analyses. Child Abuse Review, 24(1), 37-50.
