Overview of child neglect and abuse

[Tariq Zaki]

Child neglect is withholding essential things from children. Child abuse is doing harmful things to children.

Some factors that increase the risk of child neglect and abuse are poverty, drug and alcohol abuse, mental health disorders, and single parenthood.
Children who are neglected or abused may appear tired, hungry, or dirty or have physical injuries or emotional or mental problems, or they may appear completely normal.
Abuse should be suspected when the pattern of injury suggests that the injury was not accidental, when injuries do not match the caregiver