ANSWER
Abuse of Children in the Preschool Age Range (3–5 Years)
Typical Kinds of Preschool Abuse
Children between the ages of three and five are especially susceptible to:
Physical abuse includes non-accidental injuries like burns, fractures, and bruising.
Verbal abuse, threats, and denial of affection are examples of emotional abuse.
Neglect: Insufficient food, housing, healthcare, or supervision.
Inappropriate sexual interaction or exploitation is considered sexual abuse.
Warning Indications and Evaluation Results
Physical Signs:
bruising in odd places or patterns (e.g., neck, ears, torso).
burns in several forms, such immersion burns or cigarette burns.
fractures that don’t match the child’s developmental stage.
indicators of neglect, such as inadequate personal cleanliness, undernourishment, or untreated illnesses.
Emotional and behavioural markers:
Extreme shyness, hesitancy to return home, or fearful behaviour near adults.
delays in speech or motor skills development.
Regression to earlier developmental phases, including bedwetting, or aggressive behaviour.
Sexual abuse may be implied by knowledge or actions that are out of character for the child’s age.
Cultural Differences in Medical Practices
Some cultural health customs could be mistaken for abuse:
Some Asian societies use coining and cupping as healing techniques, which can result in bruises or circular marks.
Traditional methods include scarification and the application of herbal treatments that cause skin discoloration. Before classifying activities as abuse, nurses must be culturally competent and evaluate them within their own cultural context.
Mechanism for Reporting and Duties of Nurses
Reporting suspected child abuse is required in every state in the US. In my state, New Mexico, for example:
Nurses are required to notify the Children, Youth, and Families Department (CYFD) or a local criminal enforcement agency right away if they suspect child abuse.
The child’s name, residence, the type of injury or concern, and any other relevant information should all be included in the report.
When nurses act in good faith and put the child’s safety and wellbeing first, they are legally protected as required reporters.
Factors That Make You More Vulnerable
Limitations in Development: Due to their poor verbal skills, preschool-aged children find it more difficult to report abuse or ask for assistance.
Dependency: People who rely heavily on their carers to meet their fundamental requirements are more vulnerable to abuse or neglect from their carers.
Citations
Paediatric Academy of America, 2021. identifying and disclosing child abuse. taken from the website https://www.aap.org
Organisation for World Health, 2021. Recommendations for the health sector’s response to child abuse. taken from the website https://www.who.int
In line with AACN Core Competency 9.1, nurses can recognise, prevent, and address child abuse in vulnerable groups by having a thorough understanding of these factors.
QUESTION
Child abuse and maltreatment is not limited to a particular age. It can occur in the infant/toddler (1 month-3 years of age), preschool (3-5 years of age), school-age (5-11 years of age), and adolescent (12-18 years of age) age groups. Choose one of the four age groups and outline the types of abuse most commonly seen among children of that age. Describe warning signs and physical and emotional assessment findings the nurse may see that could indicate child abuse. Discuss cultural variations of health practices that can be misidentified as child abuse. Describe the reporting mechanism in your state and nurse responsibilities related to the reporting of suspected child abuse. Identify two factors that increase the vulnerability of a child for abuse in the age group you have selected.
Initial discussion question posts should be a minimum of 200 words and include at least two references cited using APA format.
American Association of Colleges of Nursing Core Competencies for Professional Nursing Education
This assignment aligns to AACN Core Competency 9.1.