Exploring Child Abuse from Clinical, Legal, and Forensic Perspectives

In the realm of public health, child abuse represents a complex issue defined by acts of physical, sexual, or psychological harm or neglect against minors. Such acts disrupt the biopsychosocial integrity of children and occur globally, presenting significant challenges in detection due to secrecy by both perpetrators and victims. Child abuse factors span a spectrum from individual child characteristics to broader societal influences, indicating the multifaceted nature of this problem.

This Research Topic aims to explore the multifaceted dimensions of child abuse through a multidisciplinary lens. By integrating the expertise of medical specialists, lawmakers, and forensic experts, this research seeks to deepen the understanding of child abuse, enhance preventive measures, and refine forensic methodologies for handling such cases.

To build a comprehensive understanding of this topic, the scope is set to:

• Provide an in-depth examination of the epidemiology and clinical presentations of child abuse.
• Detail specialist perspectives, such as radiological and ophthalmological views, essential for diagnosing abuse.
• Identify key indicators of potential abuse to facilitate early detection.
• Discuss strategies for preventing child abuse.
• Analyze forensic studies and fatal instances to augment child protection services.
• Encompassing these areas, we welcome contributions that address, but are not limited to:
• Definitions and prevalence of child abuse and battered child syndrome
• Psychiatric impacts on abused children
• Roles of various specialists in identifying child abuse
• Comparative legal frameworks on child protection

Article types and fees

This Research Topic accepts the following article types, unless otherwise specified in the Research Topic description:

• Brief Research Report
• Case Report
• Classification
• Clinical Trial
• Community Case Study
• Data Report
• Editorial
• FAIR² Data
• FAIR² DATA Direct Submission
• ... View all formats

Articles that are accepted for publication by our external editors following rigorous peer review incur a publishing fee charged to Authors, institutions, or funders.

Article types

This Research Topic accepts the following article types, unless otherwise specified in the Research Topic description:

• Brief Research Report
• Case Report
• Classification
• Clinical Trial
• Community Case Study
• Data Report
• Editorial
• FAIR² Data
• FAIR² DATA Direct Submission
• General Commentary
• Hypothesis and Theory
• Methods
• Mini Review
• Opinion
• Original Research
• Perspective
• Policy and Practice Reviews
• Policy Brief
• Review
• Study Protocol
• Systematic Review
• Technology and Code

Keywords: Child Abuse, Biopsychosocial Integrity, Multidisciplinary Approach, Forensic Methodologies, Prevention Strategies

Important note: All contributions to this Research Topic must be within the scope of the section and journal to which they are submitted, as defined in their mission statements. Frontiers reserves the right to guide an out-of-scope manuscript to a more suitable section or journal at any stage of peer review.