INCORPORATING HEALTH AND BEHAVIORAL CONSEQUENCES OF CHILD-ABUSE IN PREVENTION PROGRAMS TARGETING FEMALE ADOLESCENTS

A study examining the health and behavioral consequences of child abus e was conducted among 263 parenting and 257 never-pregnant teens atten ding a reproductive health clinic. Both groups of teens identified the following major consequences: suicide, prostitution, school drop-out, crime and substance abuse. However, only parenting teens expressed in terest in prevention programs that would address these consequences. T raditional child abuse prevention programs are focused on parenting is sues and rarely address health and behavioral consequences of abuse. T hese health and behavioral consequences of abuse may make adolescents vulnerable to abuse their own children as well as interfere with their psychosocial development. Therefore, the authors recommend integratin g health and behavioral issues into child abuse prevention programs. ( C) 1998 Elsevier Science Ireland Ltd.