[What can be done to prevent violence and abuse of children with disabilities?]

Area of Science:

• Childhood disability studies
• Public health
• Social work

Context:

• Children with physical, psychological, and sensorial disabilities are disproportionately vulnerable to violence and maltreatment.
• Child maltreatment, particularly concerning disabled children, remains under-researched with limited attention to prevention.
• Preventing abuse in this population mitigates physical/emotional suffering and secondary disabilities.

Purpose:

• To review primary and secondary prevention strategies for violence and maltreatment against children with disabilities.
• To synthesize literature from the past decade in developed countries.
• To raise public and health professional awareness and guide future research and prevention efforts.

Summary:

• A literature review of the last 10 years identified various primary and secondary prevention strategies for child maltreatment in disabled children.
• The review focused on developed countries, highlighting the need for increased attention to this under-researched area.
• Key findings underscore the importance of targeted prevention to reduce harm and associated community costs.

Impact:

• Elevates awareness among health professionals and the public regarding the risks faced by children with disabilities.
• Provides a foundation for developing and implementing effective, evidence-based prevention programs.
• Aims to reduce the incidence of violence and maltreatment, lessening additional suffering and long-term consequences for disabled children.