Caring for child victims of violence

The health sector is often the first point of contact for children exposed to violence. However, health care providers are often inadequately trained to identify and respond to child victims of violence, and only a small fraction of child victims of violence that need health services currently receive them.

WHO provides guidance to front line practitioners in primary healthcare to identify children that are victims of physical, sexual and emotional violence and neglect and to better identify victims and provide first line support. This guidance covers:

• Recognizing signs and symptoms that indicate abuse or neglect;
• Supportive communication with children suspected to be victims of violence;
• Assessing and addressing the safety of the child;
• Interacting responsibly with caregivers in suspected cases of child maltreatment;
• Providing immediate medical and psychosocial support for children exposed to physical, sexual and emotional violence and neglect, and
• Collecting medical history, conducting physical exams and appropriate documentation of findings.