Intimate partner violence: the role of the pediatrician

Pediatrics. 2010 May;125(5):1094-100. doi: 10.1542/peds.2010-0451. Epub 2010 Apr 26.

Abstract

The American Academy of Pediatrics and its members recognize the importance of improving the physician's ability to recognize intimate partner violence (IPV) and understand its effects on child health and development and its role in the continuum of family violence. Pediatricians are in a unique position to identify abused caregivers in pediatric settings and to evaluate and treat children raised in homes in which IPV may occur. Children exposed to IPV are at increased risk of being abused and neglected and are more likely to develop adverse health, behavioral, psychological, and social disorders later in life. Identifying IPV, therefore, may be one of the most effective means of preventing child abuse and identifying caregivers and children who may be in need of treatment and/or therapy. Pediatricians should be aware of the profound effects of exposure to IPV on children.

MeSH terms

  • Child
  • Child Abuse / diagnosis
  • Child Abuse / prevention & control
  • Child Abuse / psychology
  • Child Reactive Disorders / diagnosis
  • Child Reactive Disorders / prevention & control
  • Child Reactive Disorders / psychology
  • Humans
  • Mandatory Reporting
  • Pediatrics
  • Physician's Role*
  • Risk Factors
  • Socialization
  • Spouse Abuse / diagnosis
  • Spouse Abuse / prevention & control*
  • Spouse Abuse / psychology
  • Stress Disorders, Post-Traumatic / diagnosis
  • Stress Disorders, Post-Traumatic / prevention & control
  • Stress Disorders, Post-Traumatic / psychology
  • Truth Disclosure
  • Wounds and Injuries / prevention & control
  • Wounds and Injuries / psychology