Citation

Dube SR. Child Abuse Negl. 2018; 85: 180-184.

Affiliation

Division of Epidemiology and Biostatistics, School of Public Health, Georgia State University, 140 Decatur Street, Urban Life Building, Suite 465, Atlanta, GA 30303, United States. Electronic address: sdube2@gsu.edu.

Copyright

(Copyright © 2018, Elsevier Publishing)

DOI

10.1016/j.chiabu.2018.03.007

PMID

29555095

Abstract

Currently, in the U.S. and worldwide, childhood trauma is a public health crisis. Childhood adversities, such as abuse, neglect, and related household stressors, are common, interrelated and contribute to multiple adverse social, behavioral and health outcomes throughout the lifespan. The present article provides further discussion regarding adverse childhood experiences (ACEs) screening in healthcare utilizing the etic and emic perspectives. Screening in the healthcare system leans toward the etic view: objective observations of symptoms, which may then lead to intervention delivery. Whereas the emic view provides the subjective perspective as experienced by participants of a system, culture, or common group. Finkelhor's argument about cautions regarding widespread screening is relevant in the current allopathic healthcare system, which utilizes an etic perspective and where evidence-based ACEs interventions within a biomedical-centric model are lacking. Therefore, in healthcare settings, universal ACEs screening may serve the clinicians with a surveillance tool to inform and guide medical practice and policy as they relate to delivering trauma-informed care. The Public Health Code of Ethics and Basis for Action reminds us about the values approach for collecting and using data ethically to protect population health. Practitioners and researchers across the globe are beginning to take community-engaged action, with an emic view of all community members involved.

Copyright © 2018 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.

Language: en

Keywords

ACEs; Abuse; Neglect; Public health; Screening; Surveillance