Child and Adolescent Health Case Study of Emma †Free Samples

Question: Discuss about the Child and Adolescent Health. Answer: Introduction This essay will reflect on a case study of Emma, a 3-month old girl whos brought in the emergency department by her mother, Jamie. On examination, Emma is noted to have difficulty to rouse and does not remain steady when her vital signs are taken. Shes noted to have bruises on her body but her mother insists that she rolled off the couch. The case will be discussed from the child and adolescent abuse point of view. General knowledge regarding what constitutes infant abuse and some of the findings that would show signs of child abuse and neglect will also be discussed in the write-up. Professional responsibility of a nurse in identification and reporting cases of child abuse if suspected will be presented, alongside potential impacts of abuse on the development and well-being of a child. Child maltreatment or abuse is a serious problem in the development and well-being of an infant, which negatively affects not only the physical health but also the mental health of a child (Bancroft et al., 2011). Although the definition of child abuse varies from one author to the next, Bancroft et al., (2011) describes child abuse as the act of commission or omission, by an individual responsible for the well being of that child such as a parent or a caregiver who endangers their physical and emotional development. Although in some scenarios the cases of child abuse can be isolated, there are countless cases which occur over a specified duration. Child abuse can either be sexual, physical, emotional or neglect. In the recent past, some publications have included witnessing a family violence as another form of child maltreatment (Geller et al., 2012). Obtaining a reliable data regarding the prevalence of child maltreatment has been very difficult, because in most times the cases are not reported, or may have been reported a very long time ago after the first abuse has occurred. This can be constituted by varied parameters that literature uses to define child maltreatment, as well as the different methodologies to collect information like the differences in the definition of what child abuse is all about. As of late in Canada, there are no studies concerning the widespread of child maltreatment and neglect (Radford et al., 2013). While the legislation and data regard to children protection exists, such data is more likely to be incomplete as well as inaccurate. Because the data presented may only reflect the cases that have been reported to the authorities, that can be contained or where the risks of infants harm have been accessed to be high. Research has shown that abuse can have a tremendous impact on the physical health as well as the development of a child. For instance, analysis of the National Longitudinal Survey of infants and children showed that children who are exposed to child maltreatments have much lower health status and more health conditions/ problems compared to those not exposed (Howell, 2011). Additionally, we know that children exposed to child abuse demonstrate post traumatic stress, behavioral problems, low self-esteem, as well as capacity for empathy. Its also understood that exposure to child abuse can lead to a host of problematic challenges and behaviors that may go up to teenage hood if not addresses early. Since not every child exposed to maltreatment sufferers both immediate and long term negative impacts, such exposure increases the likelihood that an adolescent will demonstrate behavioral and emotional problems. According to verlien (2010), theres increased danger for the development of relationship trauma or complex trauma because traumatic experiences are seen within the aspect of care giving, the same area where a child would expect to have both safety and comfort. Complex trauma is that which occurs continuously and cumulatively over a specified period as well as within certain aspects and relationships. verlien (2010) argue that the experience of complex relationship trauma like chronic exposure to child abuse can lead to loss of critical capabilities for self-control as well as interpersonal relatedness which puts infants at higher danger for future problems. The impact of such experience is controlled by some factors such as age, gender circumstances of the abuse, personality, plus the extent of support systems you can count on. Besides, the critical significance of the mental health of a child in such scenarios and the potential long term ramifications for such infants still go unrecognized in the majority of the professions that respond to the issues of child abuse (Sousa et al., 2011). These results are felt across key areas of human functioning; cognitive, emotional, behavioral and social. Sousa et al, (2011) postulates that there are two key areas of concern which relate to the future development and well-being, neither of which can be alienated from the state of a childs relationship with a close caregiver. They include the development of attachment plus the emotional regulation of distress. Emmas case demonstrates a high possibility of child maltreatment. Although thorough interviews, as well as physical and mental examinations, need to be done to discard the suspected child maltreatment, some of Emma's findings strongly indicate child abuse. She presents several small, oval shaped bruises to her torso and bruising behind her head. Although bruises are common accidental injuries that a child can sustain during normal day to day operations, they are also a manifestation of maltreatment (Stanley, 2011). Bruises are predominantly on the shins and legs unlike in the case for Emma where they are on her torso. Bruising is not common in areas including the buttocks, the back, forearm, abdomen/hip, cheeks /face, hand, posterior leg or upper arm. Besides, bruising to the hands is very rare among infants, and in case an injury is noted, a clear explanation for the injury should be sought. On the other case, Stanley (2011) also argues that accidental bruises to the head are very c ommon around the forehead, upper lip, chin, or nose in contrast to the abusive bruises which are found on the cheeks, neck, ear, or peri-orbital region. Childs abuse not only involves attention to cause physical damage or harm, not providing necessities such as food and water but also health care and hygiene can constitute to a child maltreatment in the form of Neglect (Stanley, 2011). Neglect can have adverse effects on the health as well as the development and well being of a child. In Emmas case, the bruises on her occiput can be due to tripping or a hit on the ground with the back of her head or a fall from the sofa as per mothers explanation. This can happen as a result of negligence or lack of proper care to the child by the care giver. A 12-hour history of vomiting and lethargy and lack of energy during investigation plus seizure in Emmas case are indicators of child negligence which amounts to maltreatment. However, early recognition and intervention of such factors are crucial especially in the process of avoiding further victimization of an infant. They can also increase the likelihood of adolescents recovering from maltrea tment and neglect. According to Wildeman (2010) nurses are the first-hand healthcare officers in contact with the patients seeking health care. Due to this, it's of great essence that nurses understand pretty well the primary role they play in identifying, recording, as well as reporting suspected cases of abuse and neglect, especially to the children and adolescents. Since the definition of a child abuse can vary from one state to the other, any suspected cases of child and adolescent abuse or Neglect should be reported within the shortest time possible as Wildeman (2010) puts it. In Canada for instance, the report of suspected child maltreatment is a mandatory particularly for those professions that deal with the kids directly such as Nurses and teachers. According to Wildeman (2010) nurses who fail to report cases of child Neglect or maltreatment might be at risk of facing legal consequences like a jail term of not less than ten years. As per the literature, some of the barriers that prevent nurses or any other health professional from reporting cases of a child abuse include; fear of being identified as the principal source of the claim particularly in small communities where people live close to each other (Yount et al., 2011). Another fear could be a wrongfully suspect or report abuse, which may cause discomfort to the children and their caregivers/parents, as well as the risks of legal consequences not only for the departments where the nurses work but also for themselves. Yount et al., (2011), hold that the key reason manifested by health workers who fail to report cases of child maltreatment or neglect is due to lack of proper training in identifying an infant and adolescent abuse. Studies have shown the need that educational programs have in recognizing and preventing child maltreatment or neglect. Nurses have a moral obligation of reporting suspected cases of child abuse so that further investigations can b e done to access whether theres a situation that can cause danger either to the physical, psychological or emotional integrity of a child (Taft et al., 2011). The consequences of not reporting these cases by a nurse are more dare for the infant than the impact of reporting when theres no Maltreatment. Conclusion In this essay, we have shown that child and adolescent maltreatment or neglect is a serious problem affecting almost every society globally. Child maltreatment as discussed above can have dire consequences in the children going through abuse, that impact either short or long term physical, emotional, psychological, social development or the well being of a child. The consequences of child abuse depend on age and growth of the child at the time the abuse takes place as well as the support of the society after the maltreatment is reported. Resilience can act as a tool to reduce the cases of child abuse. As demonstrated in the case study, evaluation and further examination of Emma's condition can be a possible case of child maltreatment or neglect. Although Nurses plays a critical role in identifying possible cases of child abuse, every other person's input to the matter can help in a quick recovery for the children who suffer ill-treatment or neglect and are still unidentified. References Bancroft, L., Silverman, J. G., Ritchie, D. (2011). The batterer as parent: Addressing the impact of domestic violence on family dynamics. Sage Publications. Geller, A., Cooper, C. E., Garfinkel, I., Schwartz-Soicher, O., Mincy, R. B. (2012). Beyond absenteeism: Father incarceration and child development. Demography, 49(1), 49-76. Hester, M. (2011). 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