Child Abuse and Neglect Risk in Times of Crisis

Child abuse and neglect impacts millions of children each year, and the many detrimental impacts on health, well-being, and the economy persist across the lifespan and intergenerationally. Risk and protective factors make child abuse and neglect more or less likely, but during humanitarian crises like economic downturns and health crises, the context and conditions are ripe for increased risk of perpetration and victimization. Prevention is possible when we take a public health approach, and every sector assures the conditions that bolster families, like concrete and economic supports, access to mental health services, and coordinated, aligned ecosystems.