Child maltreatment

Child maltreatment (CM) includes all forms of abuse or neglect against minors that result in measurable harm or injury, or risk thereof, to the child or adolescent. There are five main classifications of CM: physical, sexual, and emotional abuse, neglect, and exposure to intimate partner violence. Evidence is robust in terms of the negative consequences of child maltreatment across development and multiple domains of functioning. Although structural factors are recognized to impact child protection by systems (e.g., police, child welfare), primary prevention of CM remains a top priority. This article provides an overview of the epidemiology and etiology of CM, its association with adverse developmental and health outcomes, and the evidence base for preventive interventions.