NSG 6435 Week 7 Discussion 1 Essay Sample
Child abuse and neglect persist as significant concerns, impacting millions of children annually. As per the World Health Organization, child abuse encompasses maltreatment and neglect, with around 3 million affected children in the United States alone. The gravity of this public health issue is underscored by the alarming statistics, with an estimated 683,000 children being victims of abuse and 1670 cases resulting in fatalities in 2015 (Kuang et al., 2018). Numerous risk factors contribute to child mistreatment, including age below 4, developmental delays, parental stress, single parenthood, low income, and environmental hazards.
Chronic health conditions, physical disabilities, and developmental delays heighten the risk of mistreatment, with neglect manifesting in various forms. This includes nonadherence to healthcare recommendations, delays in seeking healthcare, inadequate nutrition, and exposure to environmental hazards (Fong & Christian, 2012). In the presented iHuman case study involving Tommy Acker, a child with Down syndrome, speech delay, and a single parent with financial constraints, the risk factors are apparent. The complexity of the case necessitates astute critical thinking skills, particularly in identifying abdominal trauma and considering multiple differential diagnoses.
Tommy’s admission to the pediatric intensive care unit is warranted due to his health conditions, abdominal trauma, and delayed care. Child protective services are involved to safeguard Tommy, providing essential support to his mother in caring for him and her other children. Ethical considerations in pediatric care, especially in cases of abuse, underscore the need for ongoing education among healthcare providers (Guedert & Grosseman, 2012). Further research is imperative to address and reduce the incidence of child mistreatment, abuse, and neglect (Bright et al., 2015).
References
Bright, M. A., Thompson, L., Esernio-Jenssen, D., Alford, S., & Shenkman, E. (2015). Primary care pediatricians’ perceived prevalence and surveillance of adverse childhood experiences in low-income children. Journal of Health Care for the Poor and Underserved, 26(3), 686-700.
Brown, C. M., Girio-herrera, E., Sherman, S. N., Kahn, R. S., & Copeland, K. A. (2013). Low-income parents’ perceptions of pediatrician advice on early childhood education. Journal of Community Health, 38(1), 195-204.
Fong, H., & Christian, C. W. (2012). Child neglect: A review for the primary care pediatrician. Pediatric Annals, 41(12), 3000-5.
Kuang, X., Aratani, Y., & Li, G. (2018). Association between emergency department utilization and the risk of child maltreatment in young children. Injury Epidemiology, 5(1), 1-8.
Guedert, J. M., & Grosseman, S. (2012). Ethical problems in pediatrics: What does the setting of care and education show us? BMC Medical Ethics, 13, 2.
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