Abuse and Neglect Among Children

By Karlie Peters RN

Abuse can be defined as “put to a wrong or bad use; misapply, do wrong to; injure; violate; defile, and attack with contumelious language” (Webster’s Dictionary). Abuse can take on many forms, such as physical, sexual, and psychological abuse. Child abuse is not limited to a certain age, race, sex, socioeconomic background or religion. Years of child abuse can have a variety of adverse affects on those whom are victims, such as adult behavior problems, “prostitution, drug and alcohol abuse, and more unprotected sexual activity” (Dilorio, Hartwell, & Hansen, 2002). It is estimated that “700,000 to 4 million women and children are forced into the international sex trade every year in response to conditions of poverty, low social status women, lax border surveillance, and police collusion” (Clark, 389). Most of the sex workers in India are under the age of 18.
Primary health promotion interventions are based on the promotion and protection or prevention of the issue at hand. A community nurse can help educate the community and family members of any issues of a situation. Starting with the community, a community health nurse can round up all citizens with concern for abuse to get involved with identifying the problem, preventing the situation and to treat the victims of abuse and neglect. The first step of awareness is to spread the word. Monthly or weekly community meetings to discuss abuse can help citizens of the community be aware of the problem. Assemblies at schools, ranging from kindergarten to high school age and available counseling at schools may help children feel comfortable with seeking advice.
The National Foundation for Abused and Neglected Children (NFANC) can be considered as a secondary health promotion intervention. The NFANC reports over 30,000 cases of abuse and neglect in a year. They protect children under the age of 18 with the practices of a risk-oriented case management. The NFANC delivers services to those in need to reduce the risk of abuse.
Tertiary interventions involves coping and dealing with the long-term effects of abuse. The NFANC also helps families with preservation, which implies that they do not intervene when the situation is not in need of fixing. Therapy and counseling can help individuals deal with the long-term mental affects on a child. Long term affects can also include the separation of families, moving out of the children’s comfort zone, such as their home and school, and even withdrawal from social environments due to fear.

References

Clark, M.J. (2008). Community Health Nursing: Caring for Populations. (5th Ed.).
Upper Saddle River, New Jersey: Prentice Hall.

Note: This blog post reflects the work of Karlie Peters RN with minor editing by Shirley Comer RN and was completed as a class assignment. The content of this blog is for informational purposes only. Before beginning or changing a treatment or lifestyle regime you should consult your primary health care provider.

CHILDHOOD OBESITY

BY Abigail Ogunniyi RN

Obesity is an unhealthy accumulation of body fats. It is the most common nutritional disease in the United States of America. It occurs as a result of imbalance between food eaten and energy expanded. It can be caused by unhealthy eating, physical inactivity, genetic, hormonal, and medications. It is usually diagnosed by Body Mass Index (BMI) calculation.
Childhood obesity is a major public health issue, over the past four decades, obesity rates in the United States of America have more than quadrupled among children ages six years to eleven years, more than tripled among adolescents ages 12 years to 19 years and nearly tripled among children ages 2 years to five years. In 2000, for example 15.3% of children were obese compared to nearly 5.7% in 1980 (Clark, 2008). These increasing rates pose a serious health and economic threat to the nation. Being obese or overweight increases the risk of heart disease, type II diabetes and many other serious health conditions. Preventing obesity during childhood is critical as research shows that obese adolescents have up to an 80% chance of becoming obese adults.
To effectively address this problem, primary interventions includes teaching about the importance of healthy diet and physical activity. Advocating for healthy school meal programs as well as healthy diet in home settings; also advocating for increase in physical education time and providing schools with needed physical activity equipments.
Secondary intervention includes educating families/public regarding the consequences of childhood obesity including heart diseases, type II diabetes and other serious health conditions. Tertiary interventions includes referring obese children for counseling to improve self image if needed, promoting lifestyle changes consistent with weight management.

References

Clark, M.J. (2008). Community Health Nursing: Caring for Populations. (5th Ed.).
Upper Saddle River, New Jersey: Prentice Hall.

Note: This blog post reflects the work of Abigail Ogunniyi RN with minor editing by Shirley Comer RN and was completed as a class assignment. The content of this blog is for informational purposes only. Before beginning or changing a treatment or lifestyle regime you should consult your primary health care provider.

Child Abuse: How to Prevent Abuse

By: Patricia Thomas RN

The statistics are an eye opener an estimated 906,000 children are victims of abuse and neglect every year. Child abuse can occur in many different ways, the results are till the same. Sexual and phyisical abuse are prominantly found since it leaves physical and mental evidence behind. However emotional and abuse and neglect is just as common. Anyone under the age of 18 who's been abused or neglected by someone responsible for his/her care not just parents are victims of child abuse.There several complicated risks factors:

1.) History of child abuse, a personal history a learnedpattern from childhood.

2.) A limited ability to deal with stressors such ascaring for a child with disabillilties, caregiver financial, poor socilization, and relationship stress.

3.) Alcohol and drug abuse serious lapses in judgment.

4.) Domestic violence,frequently performed in the house will escalate to physical violence against the child as well. Abuse occurs in all socioeconomic level, however in poverty -stricken families it can occurs up to 20-25 times more likely experiencing maltreatment, according to the NIS-3. The NIS-3 found that race doesn't play a role in cases of abuse and neglect.

What does abuse look like?

Physical findings of abuse may include bruises, bite marks, burns, fractures,abdominal injuries, and hair loss. Sexual abuse may include lacerations or bruising of the hymen of the vagina and/or the anus.

You may be reluctant to interfere in someone's family , but you can make a huge difference in a child's life if you report the abuse, the earlier reported abuse children get help, the greater chance they have to heal from their abuse and not perpetuate the cycle. You may feel overwhelmed. The best help you can provide is calm, unconditional support and reassurance. The child is looking to you to provide support and help -don't let him or her down.

The primary phase is getting the child and family some help, couseling, anger management and parent training of which can make a tremendous difference in the life of the child's family especially if you can stop the abuse early.

The secondary phase is child protective services, getting the child completely out of danger to stop the abuse early. Stop It Now 1-888- PREVENT (1-888-773-8368) Please inform all children if they don't have a friend or family to turn to they can call child abuse hotline 1-800-4-A-CHILD for help, themselves if they feel reluctant to consult with you.The tertiary phase would include education, not learned skills neccessary for good parenting, education can greatly help caregivers who need information on raising children. Children need education as well to help protect for abuse. They need to know that is never their fault and never ok.

References

Clark, M.J. (2008). Community Health Nursing: Caring for Populations. (5th Ed.).
Upper Saddle River, New Jersey: Prentice Hall

Note: This blog post reflects the work of Patricia Thomas RN with minor editing by Shirley Comer RN and was completed as a class assignment. The content of this blog is for informational purposes only. Before beginning or changing a treatment or lifestyle regime you should consult your primary health care provider.

Teen Depression

By Ed Roska RN

The world health organization defines depression as a common mental disorder that presents with depressed mood, loss of interest or pleasure, feelings of guilt or low self-worth, disturbed sleep or appetite, low energy, and poor concentration. It is a known fact that depression can hinder one’s ability to have a productive life.

Depression is one of the leading causes Disability Adjusted Life Years (DALY) worldwide, DALY is the sum of years of productive life lost due to disability. According to Dr. Heinz of the NeuroResearch Clinics, depression is the 4th leading cause of Disability-Adjusted Life-Years; the World Health Organization also wrote that depression is expected to be the 2nd leading cause of DALYs in 2020 next to heart disease.

Mood swings are normal for teenager, sadness or withdrawal may be cause by hormonal changes or stress in school or conflict with parents. However persistent sadness that last for more than 1-2 weeks is an indication of depression. Some of the symptoms of depression may include:

· Decline in energy
· Noticeable changes in eating habits
· Poor concentration/poor performance in school
· Sleeping to much
· Alcohol abuse or smoking

Teen depression is different from adult depression. Teens tend to show more signs of anger and irritability instead of sadness. Unlike adults teens tend to spend more time with friends. Sometimes the only sign that indicate depression in teens is suicide or claims of wanting to die, which maybe then too late (Ellis-Christensen, 2003-2009).

Primary prevention for teen depression starts at home. Parents sometimes will have a hard time noticing signs of depression because teenagers have a tendency to have emotional ups and down. The best thing to do would be to talk and listen to the kids. Parents should be encouraging teens to be involved in activities and be involved in their activities. Most importantly parents should be role models. Risk factors for teen depression include alcoholic and abusive parents. Other primary preventions would include programs such as the Penn Resiliency Program and Coping with Stress courses. According to Gladstone and Beardslee (2009) these programs have been research and proven to be effective on teen with high risk factors for depression.
Secondary and tertiary prevention would involve hospitalization if the teen committed suicide, this would also involve medical and psychological therapy. The primary preventions mentioned above would be best initiated as well to prevent this from happening again.

If teens are showing signs of imminent suicide such as sadness and giving precious belongings call this hotline ASAP:
· 800-SUICIDE (784-2433) or 877-YOUTHLINE(968-8454)


References
Teen Depression (2005). Retrieved July 17, 2009, from http://www.teendepression.org/
Hinz, M. (2009). Depression epidemiology. Retrieved July 17, 2009, from http://www.neuroassist.com/depression-epidemiology.htm
Gladstone, T., Beardslee, W. (2009). The prevention of depression in children and adolescents: A review. Canadian Journal of Psychiatry. 54 (4), 212-220. Retrieved July 17, 2009 from EBSCO database GSU library.
Ellis-Christensen, T. (n.d.). How teenage depressions differ from adult depression? Retrieved July 17, 2009, from http://www.wisegeek.com/how-is-teenage-depression-different-from-adult-depression.htm
World Health Organization (n.d.). Depression. Retrieved July 17, 2009, from http://www.who.int/mental_health/management/depression/definition/en/

Note: This blog post reflects the work of Ed Roska RN with minor editing by Shirley Comer RN and was completed as a class assignment. The content of this blog is for informational purposes only. Before beginning or changing a treatment or lifestyle regime you should consult your primary health care provider.