List of Potential Interventions

Rating	All Ratings PromisingRecommendedUnproven
Population	All Populations Abusive CaregiversAll CaregiversAt-Risk CaregiversAt-Risk ChildrenCliniciansGeneral PopulationYoung Children
Strategy	All Strategies EducationLegislation/Policy/EnforcementModification of Social Environment

Overview

The term “the battered child syndrome” was coined by Henry Kempe in 1961 to describe children who have been non-accidentally physically injured by caretakers. This is a worldwide problem, occurring in both industrialized and less industrialized countries. Children of all ages can be abused, and this abuse can take the form of physical injury, sexual abuse, neglect and emotional injury. Our review of child abuse interventions focuses on physical abuse.

The Washington State Department of Health reports that in 2001, there were over 38,000 accepted referrals to Child Protective Services involving 45,420 children. Child abuse is linked to a number of poor health outcomes, and is a factor in many child deaths, including those from homicide, suicide and unintentional injury. In a review of 882 child death review cases from 1999-2001, child abuse or neglect was a factor in 19% of those deaths (from the Washington State Childhood Injury Report, September 2004).

Some of the promising and recommended interventions to prevent child abuse and neglect have also shown positive effects in reducing later homicides and suicides among children whose families received the intervention.

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Common Resources

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