Primary Prevention of Child Abuse: Focus on the Special Child

The authors review the literature on child abuse and present evidence demonstrating that children who are born prematurely or who are sickly or handicapped are at high risk for child abuse. The authors describe ways to identify such children and suggest a number of primary prevention techniques that can reduce parental stress and help prevent child abuse. The techniques include day-care programs for handicapped children, mothers' social clubs, and lay health visitors to give support and impart proper maternal attitudes.