Developmental psychology/Chapter 6/Harm

Kids ages 1-4 yrs die of accidents 4x more than cancer.
It is not until age 40 does any type of disease overtakes avoidable injury as the cause of mortality.

Avoidable Injury

Kids during the preoperational stage are victims of serious injury more than kids in the operational stage (6yrs-10yrs). This is because these kids are impulsive and their cognition is immature (the pre-frontal cortex is not fully developed). Once they get themselves in a "sticky" situation, fear and stress take over and they're unable to get help.
Injury control - Impacts of injuries can be controlled/reduced which come from the negative results of behavior. Small bruises are inevitable as children will explore their motor skills, but serious injuries can be prevented (wearing a helmet when biking). We've seen injury control put in place, as <1/2 of 1yr-5yr olds have been killed in accidents when comparing 2015 to 1980.

Age-related trends

Falls are more fatal for under 24 months/80yrs+.
1-4yr olds have higher rates of drowning, drowning in swimming pools 6x often compared to older children/adults.
Motor vechile deaths are common among 15-25 yr olds.
Children under 5 are more times, injured from cosmetics vs. pills.
In 2015, the rate of accidental death in 10/1m children ages 1-14 was half of this rate in the 1970s.
1 gun/2 persons (1968) --> 1 gun/1person (2012)

Prevention

See w:Flint water crisis and w:Lead#Modern_era

Levels

Primary prevention - Movements that reduce the chances of harm. These are laws and cultural practices. An example is the redesigning of cars to better assist drivers in noticing pedestrians.
Secondary prevention - Movements that reduce the chances of harm in situations where the risk of harm is high. An example is a seatbelt in cars and salt on a frozen road.
Tertiary prevention - Movements that are taken immediately after an injury/illness (immediate medical attention). An example is fast and effective ambulances and medical treatment.

Child Maltreatment

92% of child mistreatment is done by the parents in the household.
Child maltreatment - Intentional harm/avoidable neglect to <18 yrs old. Includes child abuse and child neglect. In the US, child neglect happens 3x compared to child abuse. Neglect doesn't just cause bodily harm but also affects the child's emotions.
Substantiated maltreatment refers to investigated and proven cases of child maltreatment. In 2015, 800k children were victims of substantiated maltreatment. Substantiated maltreatment harms 1/90 children ages 2yrs-5yrs annually!
Reported maltreatment is cases where the authorities have just only been informed of the maltreatment. We found 3.6 million cases of this in 2014.

Ratio

A 4.5 to 1 ratio exists for reported:substantiated, because:

Each child = 1 child.
Proof is needed
Professionals = reporters, so they report any possible mistreatment - most investigations yield little to no mistreatment.
Cases may be taken to their respective system, such as the military.
False reports

A major issue with substantiated maltreatment is the fine line between harsh discipline and straight-up child abuse. Also, 1/45 infants are reported as maltreated while 1/90 preschoolers are the same.

Warning Signs

Delayed development (no curiosity, slow growth, poor interactions)
Violent/sexual play
Cold to others
Many absences from school and frequent changes in home address
Fear when caregiver is near

See w:PTSD

Children that are victims of abuse may suffer physically, but the mental damage is even greater. They may grow into hating themselves/perceiving others as cold, but they don't really grow into abusive parents themselves. Abused children are 14% likely to be unemployed.

Foster care - Children are taken away from their parents and are under the supervision of another adult.
Kinship care - The adult is a stranger/relative.

Adoption is difficult because

Judges/bio parents are not so keen on giving up their children
Children usually are screened away from gay couples
Children may not be getting the care they need from their adoptive parents
Children need to be culturally related to their adoptive parents