Citation

Ferrier PE, Stettler M. Schweiz. Med. Wochenschr. 1977; 107(39): 1349-1354.

Vernacular Title

L'enfant victime de sevices ou de negligence Plaidoyer pour une approche

Copyright

(Copyright © 1977, EMH Swiss Medical Publishers)

DOI

unavailable

PMID

561993

Abstract

The phenomenon of child abuse and neglect is universal and involves all population groups or classes. It is more the expression of a socio-affective deficiency than of economic poverty. Cultural factors are more important in its pathogenesis than traditional alienating factors such as schizophrenia and alcoholism. The victims are pre-school children and infants. The most common lesions are multiple hematomas, sometimes associated with fractures and epiphyseal wrenching. Subdural hematomas and bursting of abdominal viscera represent acute threats to the child's life. Risk factors are now better known and alarm signals of predictive value can be identified, which allow preventive steps to be taken. These alarm signals are to be observed during pregnancy, during delivery and in the neonatal period. They emanate from the mother but also from the married couple as a functional unit. After the fact, intervention in the form of control is only effective by the fear it produces. It is not therapeutic, because denial and lack of motivation for psychotherapy are prevalent. Effective therapy can only be prophylactic; hence the importance of identifying the risk. Primary prevention in the authors' opinion, must begin with adolescents, who must be informed and educated while still at school and before they are faced with the problems leading to this interpersonal disorder.

Language: fr