A book about child abuse and neglect

Child abuse and neglect: a multidimensional approach is the tittle of a new book edited by Alexander Muela. Hereafter we provide some information about the topic and the book.

Child maltreatment constitutes a social problem that affects all societies of the world. A recent study by the World Health Organisation points out that millions of children suffer some form of maltreatment and require medical and social attention. It should be noted that around 53,000 children are murdered every year; the prevalence of sexual abuse is 73 million (7%) and 150 million (14%) in boys and girls, respectively, under 18 years of age; and between 25% and 50% of the children inform that they have been physically abused.

Child maltreatment in childhood and adolescence is recognized as an important psychopathological risk factor and is associated with poor psychological function in childhood and adolescence and adulthood. The aim of this book is to address the issue of child abuse and neglect from a multidimensional perspective. You will find a selection of internationally recognized works addressing the issue of child maltreatment both from a theoretical and applied view.

In the opening chapter, Dr. Muela, Dr. López de Arana, Dr. Barandiaran, Dr. Larrea, and Dr. Vitoria tackle the difficulties present in adequately conceptualizing child abuse and neglect, provide data on its incidence and describe the main psychopathological consequences associated with each type of child maltreatment. In the second chapter, Prof. Al-Shail Essam, Dr. Kattan Hoda, Dr. Aldowaish Abdullah, and Dr. Hassan Ahmed, focusing in Saudi Arabia, examine cultural factors that contribute to child abuse and neglect. In the third chapter, Dr. Lazenbatt examines how domestic maltreatment can have an impact early in an infant’s life, even as early as pregnancy and the postpartum period and can affect infants’ physical and emotional health, their learning and their capacity to form positive relationships throughout their lives. In the fourth chapter, Dr. Cyr, Dr. Dubois-Comtois, Dr. Michel, Dr. Poulin, Dr. Pascuzzo, Losier, Dr. St-Laurent, and Dr. Moss inform on how attachment theory may be useful to assess and promote parental competency in child protection cases. In the fifth chapter, Prof. Mandisa provides a background theoretical context to the occurrence of human trafficking of young women and girls for sexual exploitation in South Africa. In the sixth chapter, Prof. Bannwart and Prof. Williams examine health professionals difficulties in identifying and reporting child maltreatment. In the seventh chapter, Dr. Martín analyzes the role played by residential care within the childhood welfare systems, acknowledging its strengths, but also its weaknesses. Finally, in the last chapter, Prof. Euichul and Prof. Joonbin analyze current technologies used for prevent crimes against children.

You can download the book in http://www.intechopen.com/books/child-abuse-and-neglect-a-multidimensional-approach