(Pediatrics in Review. 2006;27:339-345.)
© 2006 American Academy of Pediatrics
Child Abuse and Domestic Violence
Linda Cahill, MD*
Peter Sherman, MD
* Medical Director, Childrens Protection Center, Childrens Hospital at Montefiore, Bronx, NY
Director, Division of Adolescent Medicine, Department of Pediatrics, St. Barnabas Hospital, Bronx, NY
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Objectives
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After completing this article, readers should be able to: - Understand the strong association between child abuse and domestic violence.
- Screen for domestic violence in cases where child abuse has occurred.
- Discuss how exposure to violence affects the health of children.
- Refer children who have been exposed to domestic violence for treatment.
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Case Presentation
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MR, a bright, chatty 6-year-old boy, disclosed physical and sexual abuse by his father. There is a history of domestic violence in the home, which he shares with his 7-year-old sister and his mother. The children witnessed their father hitting their mother, choking her, pushing her against the wall, and kicking her in the stomach on several occasions while she was pregnant with her third child. MR heard his father say that he wished his mother would die. Once during a physical assault when MR tried to pull his father off his mother, his father slapped him. His mother delivered a stillborn baby, after which MRs behavior declined. He threatened to kill himself by cutting his wrists to be in heaven with the deceased baby. He attempted to choke his sister and to hurt the family dog and described hearing voices telling him to do bad things.
MR reported that his father got into the bathtub with him every day and "washed" MRs private area with soap and water. At times, his father grabbed MRs penis forcefully enough to cause pain. He said that his father asked him to touch and kiss his (fathers) penis. His father pulled his ear, slapped him on his buttocks and face, and hit him with a belt. MR said that his father did a lot of things and that he didnt remember them all.
MRs mother said that she told the father to leave the apartment. According to her, when he . . . [Full Text of this Article]
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Copyright © 2006 by the American Academy of Pediatrics.