Battered Child Syndrome Health Article

Definition

Battered child syndrome (BCS) refers to non-accidental injuries sustained by a child as a result of physical abuse, usually inflicted by an adult caregiver.

Description

Internal injuries, cuts, burns, bruises, and broken or fractured bones are all possible results of battered child syndrome. Because adults are so much larger and stronger than children are, an abused can suffer severe injury or death without the abuser intentionally causing such an injury. Shaking an infant can cause bleeding in the brain (subdural hematoma), resulting in permanent brain damage or death. Emotional damage to a child is also often the byproduct of child abuse, which can result in the child exhibiting serious behavioral problems such as substance abuse or the physical abuse of others.

BCS is alternatively referred to as child physical abuse or non-accidental trauma (NAT).

Demographics

The total abuse rate of children is 25.2 per 1,000 children, with physical abuse accounting for 5.7 per 1,000, sexual abuse 2.5 per 1,000, emotional abuse 3.4 per 1,000, and neglect accounting for 15.9 per 1,000 children. These categories overlap, with sexual and physical abuse often occurring together; physical abuse or neglect seldom occur without emotional abuse. These numbers may be underestimates due to underreporting of the problem or failure of diagnosis by medical personnel.

In 1996, more than 3 million victims of alleged abuse were reported to child protective services in the United States; reports were substantiated in more than one million cases. Parents were abusers in 77 percent of the confirmed cases; other relatives in 11 percent. More than 1,000 children died from abuse in 1996.

Causes

Battered child syndrome (BCS) is found at every level of society, although the incidence may be higher in lower-income households, where adult caregivers may suffer greater stress and social difficulties and have a greater lack of control over stressful situations. Other risk factors include lack of education, single parenthood, and alcoholism or other drug addictions. The child abuser most often injures a child in the heat of anger or during moments of stress. Common trigger events that may occur before assaults include incessant crying or whining of infants or children; perceived excessive "fussiness" of an infant or child; a toddler's failed toilet training; and exaggerated perceptions of acts of "disobedience" by a child. Sometimes cultural traditions may lead to abuse, including beliefs that a child is property, that parents (especially males) have the right to control their children any way they wish, and that children need to be toughened up to face the hardships of life. Child abusers were often abused as children themselves and do not realize that abuse is not an appropriate disciplinary technique. Abusers also often have poor impulse control and do not understand the consequences of their actions.