Child abuse and neglect: a public health perspective

Child abuse and neglect prevention are now poised at the threshold of the public health arena just as the prevention of communicable diseases and unintentional injuries once stood. The principles of public health combined with epidemiology helped eradicate smallpox. The expertise of many disciplines and the three-pronged (primary, secondary, and tertiary) prevention approach have moved the concept of unintentional injuries from "accidents will happen" to predictable and, therefore, preventable. Child abuse and neglect are now seen as epidemic in society. Through surveillance, intervention, prevention, and policy changes, the rate of child abuse and neglect can be significantly impacted in the same way that rates of unintentional injuries and communicable diseases have been reduced.