Family Food Research Articles

Drought Disaster Causes and Their Proposed Adaptation Strategies around Karst Areas in Gunungkidul Regency, Indonesia : A Review

Gunungkidul Regency, one of Indonesia's karst regions, frequently experiences droughts. This study aims to investigate the causes of drought disasters and provide adaptation strategies for disasters that may occur near karst areas in Gunungkidul Regency. We used Google Scholar to identify drought causes on the study site. The next stage is making appropriate adaptation strategies using a qualitative and comparative analysis technique. The three main components that cause drought disasters in Gunungkidul Regency include climate characteristics, hydrogeological characteristics, and anthropogenic factors. Some proposed adaptation strategies to address the impacts of drought disasters include planting crops with low water requirements, adopting conservation agriculture and utilizing organic farming, applying structural adaptation strategies, developing agroforestry, giving farmers financial assistance, paying compensation to drought-affected families, distributing knowledge about drought adaptation strategies, reducing family food demand, suggesting seasonal migration, and reducing livestock. Working with multiple stakeholders is essential to putting these adaptation strategies into action.

Utilization of Sustainable Food Gardens (P2L) as an effort to improve household food security in Cijaku Village

Food security is the condition of fulfilling food needs in terms of quantity and quality from household to national levels, and one way to meet these needs is through the application of Sustainable Food Gardens (P2L). Sustainable Food Gardens are crucial for enhancing food self-sufficiency, supporting food consumption diversification by cultivating various crops and raising livestock, optimizing land use in household gardens, and contributing to local economic strengthening through local production. The implementation of P2L enables communities to contribute to environmental sustainability in the agricultural sector. This service is conducted in Cijaku Village, Cijaku District, Lebak Regency, Banten Province. It utilizes qualitative descriptive methods by conducting socialization, assistance, focus group discussions, and evaluation. Empowering communities through Sustainable Food Utilization to support household food security involves various factors that support sustainability and food self-sufficiency at the local level. The results of the socialization showed that 48.14% of respondents did not know about the P2L program before, and 40.74% had never attended related training. After the socialization, 51.85% of the community understood that P2L could help family food security, and 59.26% started implementing P2L by planting green vegetables. Socialization is considered easy to do (48.14%) and well-delivered (51.85%). P2L can support food diversification, and sustainable land management, serve as an adaptation strategy to climate change, optimize water usage, empower women, increase household production, and enhance community involvement in meeting food needs independently.

A case of concurrent malnutrition in maple syrup urine disease: challenges and solutions in Indonesia

BackgroundMaple syrup urine disease (MSUD) is a rare autosomal recessive inborn error of metabolism characterised by the impaired breakdown of branched-chain amino acids. Detecting MSUD in newborns is challenging due to the lack of distinctive signs, especially in resource-limited settings like Indonesia.Case presentationA 2-year-old boy presented to the paediatric metabolic clinic with inactivity, a history of uncontrolled epilepsy, global developmental delay and moderate malnutrition. He was born at 40 weeks of gestation, weighing 3100 g, to consanguineous parents. The patient faced feeding problems and was lethargic after birth, with recurrent episodes of generalised seizure and spasticity. Diagnosed with MSUD at four months, the initial response to thiamine supplementation and MSUD Anamix formula was positive. However, weight loss occurred after switching to unregulated family food, as MSUD-specific infant formula became inaccessible and unsustainable due to high costs for the caregivers. Upon compliance with nutritional advice, the child regained weight and progressed appropriately for his age.ConclusionInborn errors of metabolism like MSUD should be considered in atypical disease presentations. In resource-limited settings, management should be tailored to local product availability and accessibility to ensure effective care.

Risk Factors for Primary Hypertension

Hypertension is a deadly disease caused by high blood pressure, causing damage to the kidneys, heart, and brain. This study aims to determine the risk factors for hypertension related to family history, food, eating regularity, and physical activity with the incidence of primary hypertension in the community in Sintang District. This research method is a quantitative study with a cross-sectional method design, the population in this study was 699 people with a total sample of 97 respondents. The sampling technique used was a simple random sampling technique. The results of this study indicate that there is a significant relationship between family history and the incidence of hypertension, p-value of 0.001<(p-value=0.05) and OR of 4.800; there is a significant relationship between the type of food and the incidence of hypertension, p-value of 0.005<(p-value=0,05) and an OR of 4.680, there is a significant relationship between regular meals and the incidence of hypertension, p-value of 0.040< (p-value=0.05) and OR of 3.520, and there is a significant relationship between physical activity and the incidence of hypertension, p-value of 0.003< (p-value=0.05) and OR of 4.308. In conclusion, family history, type of food, regular food, and physical activity are related to the incidence of hypertension, therefore it is recommended that people who have a history of hypertension sufferers can regulate their diet and do physical activity regularly.

Assessing Scotland’s self-sufficiency of major food commodities

BackgroundAnalysis of food self-sufficiency at the regional level helps to better understand its dependency on, and vulnerability to, the food system. Moreover, achieving food self-sufficiency has gained prominence in the present policy agenda to increase resilience to adverse events and lower food resource footprint. Using a novel method, we estimated the food balance sheets of Scotland, the second-largest region in the United Kingdom, and assessed the self-sufficiency of major food commodities for the first time.MethodsData from 2003 to 2019 were obtained from Economic Reports on Scottish Agriculture and the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs (DEFRA)’s family food statistics. Food import and export data are not readily available for Scotland. Therefore, we developed a consumption-based approach to estimate the net trade values of each commodity. We also assessed the contribution of domestic production toward nutrient security.ResultsAccording to our estimates, Scotland is a net exporter of beef, exporting an average of 51.3 thousand tons per year. It is also a net exporter of cereal (wheat, barley, oats) and potatoes, although this was not always the case between 2003 and 2019. Scotland has a strong level of self-sufficiency in cereals, potatoes, lamb, beef, dairy, and eggs. However, there is room for improvement in achieving self-sufficiency in poultry and pork, where the self-sufficiency ratio is relatively low. Our analysis of nutrient security indicates that wheat and dairy sourced from Scotland play crucial roles in the food supply chain, markedly influencing total energy, dietary protein, and primary dietary fat sources.ConclusionsOur assessment can serve as a foundation for evidence-based decision-making in Scotland's agricultural and food policy. It offers insights into where investments and support may be needed to enhance domestic production and promote a resilient and sustainable food system. Estimated self-sufficiency ratios provide a more accurate assessment of the extent of food localization in Scotland. The method we developed in this study has the potential to be a valuable tool for future research studies, allowing for the estimation of regional-level food self-sufficiency even when trade data and food balance sheets are unavailable.

Mothers’ reflections on family food habits post pandemic

The COVID-19 pandemic altered daily family routines, with the family food environment especially likely to be affected. Little is known about how families have adapted over time. The objective of the current study was to explore how family food habits evolved three years after COVID-19 was designated a pandemic. Mothers participated in an interview between March and April 2023. Reflexive thematic analysis was used to analyze the transcripts. Thirty mothers participated (97% lived in the Central Valley in California; 43% Hispanic). Themes were identified around changes in mealtime frequency, eating habits including snacking, screen time during mealtimes, and weight gain. While some unhealthy habits established during the pandemic improved, others persisted three years later. Maternal snacking, concerns about child weight gain, and overall screen time lessened after the pandemic ended, but child snacking behaviors, maternal weight gain concerns, and screen time during mealtimes continued. This research expands on the existing COVID-19 literature by examining lingering effects of the pandemic on family food habits. Findings may be helpful for health practitioners working with families to understand food related changes post-pandemic, especially those that have been particularly resistant to change.

Complementary feeding challenges: Insights from Swiss parents’ perspectives

Parents play a crucial role in deciding what foods to introduce to their infants during the transition from milk to solids. This study examined the challenges they face, including adherence to official complementary feeding recommendations and the struggles and concerns across different stages of feeding. Specifically, this study focused on the initial stage (transition from breastmilk/formula to mashed foods), middle stage (consumption of mashed foods and some fingerfoods, transitioning towards family foods) and late stage (complete transition to family diet). Findings from 22 semi-structured interviews with Swiss parents reveal that, despite being well-informed, practical obstacles such as returning to work, limited time for preparing homemade foods, managing multiple children, and food preferences often hinder adherence. Safety concerns like allergies and choking were prominent early on but decreased as infants grew older and parents gained confidence. In the middle phase, concerns shifted towards pesticides, indicating a growing awareness of food quality. Maintaining a healthy diet was a constant concern, with early reassurance from breastfeeding or formula feeding giving way to worries about balanced nutrition as solids became more prominent. Time constraints were particularly significant in the first two stages, due to the effort of preparing small amounts of mash and later cooking separate meals. Tailored support and clear communication can help parents navigate these challenges and promote healthier feeding practices.

Plant biodiversity assessment of locally cultivated crops and household food security in Northern Iran

BackgroundLocally cultivated crops play an important role in the food security. The biodiversity of these crops can be important for the livelihood of households in current and future generations. This research aims to study the socio-economic, agronomic, and ecological aspects which contribute to the maintenance of crop diversification and food security in the study area.MethodBased on latitude and topography 10 villages were randomly selected, which was done in a study with 227 household farm managers. Food security was evaluated based on the species richness, and area under cultivation of food groups, and the probit logistic regression model was used for evaluation. Probit regression, also known as probit models, is used when the output or dependent variable of the model is bivariate. In inverse probit models, the standard normal distribution is modeled as a linear combination of predictor variables. In this situation, the application of normal regression methods is not applicable because the distribution occurred in two levels. In this study, it is assumed that the protection of biodiversity of local plants is related to food security, and for this reason, we have used this model.ResultsThe findings showed that socio-economic status of different households and farms in this coastal area is one of the key factors affecting the biodiversity of locally cultivated crops. Local cultivars, especially those of rice, are resistant to most environmental factors and contribute to family food security. Food security and rice abundance are significantly correlated in all of the research area’s communities.ConclusionsTo ensure the sustainability, and health of production, and to ensure food security, planting various crops in this study area is recommended. Future research is needed to focus on solutions and technologies rich in diversity tailored to the socio-economic and environmental factors of locally cultivated crops.

Governance of family food security and sustainable planning. The case of the municipality of Santiago de Cuba

Governance is a process that enables communication and cooperation between the government, other public institutions, social organizations, and families. In Cuba, the recent approval in 2020 of the Food Sovereignty and Nutrition Education Plan implies strengthening governance as a catalyst for family food security (SAF). However, incorporating sustainable planning to promote food security from dimensions that describe eating practices in Cuban homes still needs to be improved. This research aims to assess the links between governance and sustainable planning, to strengthen the dimensions of access, use, social capital, and cultural food capital, among others (SAF) in the Santiago de Cuba municipality. For this, the interview and survey methods are used. The first, to 20 families in a situation of social food vulnerability, and the second, to a sample of 300 households whose coexistence is not marked exclusively by the exposure mentioned earlier. The results point to poor communication among the social actors, generating food-destructuring practices. It is also visible the scarce insertion of these dimensions in planning to achieve greater family food sustainability. It is concluded that to achieve SAF, it is necessary to strengthen the interconnection of governance and sustainable planning from a relational perspective of the food field.

Women's views and experiences of breastfeeding during the coronavirus disease 2019 pandemic: A systematic review of qualitative evidence.

The coronavirus disease 2019 pandemic affected breastfeeding women in various ways. Understanding their experiences during the pandemic is crucial for informing actionable recommendations, evidence-based strategies and future policies to support breastfeeding during global pandemics. This review aimed to synthesise qualitative evidence on women's breastfeeding perceptions, experiences and support needs during the pandemic. The Joanna Briggs Institute's (JBI) guidelines on systematic reviews of qualitative evidence were followed. MEDLINE, Embase, CINAHL and Web of Science Core Collection databases were searched. Methodological quality of included papers was assessed using JBI's checklist for qualitative research. The synthesised findings were generated using JBI's meta-aggregation approach. The JBI ConQual process was used to rank each synthesised finding. Fifty-two papers were included. The synthesised findings included: (1) women's awareness and commitment to breastfeeding during the pandemic, (2) the multifaceted breastfeeding experiences of women during the pandemic, (3) breastfeeding practices and challenges for working women, (4) professional support during the pandemic: navigating breastfeeding in an evolving health care context and (5) family and peer support groups during the challenging times of the pandemic. Breastfeeding women require clear information, accessible in-person lactation support, family emotional support, food security and protection of psychological well-being. The review reported diverse breastfeeding experiences, from social support challenges to positive aspects like remote work. Breastfeeding support and lactation consultants should be considered as essential services in future pandemics. Food security is crucial for breastfeeding households. Lactation services could prioritise face-to-face consultations for physical challenges and providing online informational support. Future research could explore innovative breastfeeding education strategies.

Factors Associated with Malnutrition Among Pregnant Women and Lactating Mothers in AJK, Pakistan

Background: Malnutrition during pregnancy and lactation is a major public health issue in developing countries like Pakistan. This study aims to assess the prevalence and factors associated with malnutrition among pregnant women and lactating mothers in Azad Jammu and Kashmir (AJK), Pakistan. Methodology: A cross-sectional study was conducted from January to December 2022 among 300 pregnant women and lactating mothers in the district Poonch of AJK. Data were collected through a semi-structured questionnaire. Anthropometric measurements, including height, weight, and mid-upper arm circumference (MUAC), were taken. BMI and MUAC were used to assess nutritional status. Results: The prevalence of malnutrition was 39% according to BMI (<18.5 kg/m²) and 46% according to MUAC (<21 cm). Significant factors associated with malnutrition included illiteracy (AOR: 2.7, 95% CI: 1.4-5.2), low family income (AOR: 2.1, 95% CI: 1.2-3.8), rural residence (AOR: 3.2, 95% CI: 1.7-6.1), food insecurity (AOR: 4.6, 95% CI: 2.4-8.9), and lack of antenatal care (AOR: 2.3, 95% CI: 1.2-4.5). Conclusion: Malnutrition is alarmingly high among pregnant and lactating women in AJK. Improving female literacy, socioeconomic status, and antenatal care coverage are recommended to address this public health issue.

The Effects of Parental Food Education on Children's Food Literacy: The Mediating Role of Parent-Child Relationship and Learning Motivation.

Parental food education has been recognized among the important factors influencing children's food literacy; however, the intrinsic mechanisms through which this influence occurs are unclear. In this study, a mediation model was constructed to explore this issue, using the parent-child relationship and learning motivation as mediating variables. In total, 204 children, aged 9-14 years old, responded to questionnaires on parental food education, children's food literacy, the parent-child relationship, and learning motivation, which were used to measure the variables of interest. The results showed that parental food education was significantly and positively related to the parent-child relationship, learning motivation, and children's food literacy; the parent-child relationship was significantly and positively related to learning motivation; and learning motivation was significantly and positively related to children's food literacy. Parental food education influenced children's food literacy in the following two main ways: the mediating role of learning motivation and the chain-mediating roles of the parent-child relationship and learning motivation. In addition, we attempt to explore the moderating role of the teaching stage between parental food education and the parent-child relationship, learning motivation, and children's food literacy. In this paper, we discuss possible guidelines for family food education and children's health based on the findings of the current study.

Study on Nutritional Status of the Adolescent Relationship with their Socio-Economic Status in Bagha, Rajshahi

Background: Adolescents' nutritional status is crucial to their overall health and development. Various socio-economic factors play significant roles in influencing this status, especially in rural areas. Objective: The study aimed to identify the factors contributing to adolescents' nutritional status and to examine the relationship between these factors and the adolescents' socio-economic characteristics in Bagha, Rajshahi. Method: Data were collected from 250 adolescents using structured interview schedules. Key variables studied included the adolescents' education, mothers' education, family income, food intake, and nutritional knowledge. Correlation and multiple linear regression analyses were conducted to evaluate the associations between these variables and the adolescents' BMI and nutritional status. Result: The study revealed that adolescents' BMI had significant positive correlations with their education, mothers' education, family income, food intake, and nutritional knowledge. An inverse correlation was found between nutritional status and disease information. Other factors, such as gender, religion, family size, fathers' education, and hygiene practices, showed positive but non-significant associations. Negative, non-significant correlations were observed with age, physical activity, transportation, leisure activities, and participation in nutrition programs. A substantial majority (89.6%) of respondents were inactive in calorie intake, with only 2.4% being active. Most adolescents (79.6%) were underweight, while 20% had normal weight. Most mothers (63.3%) and fathers (55%) had primary-level education. Multiple linear regression analysis indicated that annual family income, food intake, and nutritional awareness were positively correlated with nutritional status, whereas disease information had a significant negative correlation. Conclusions: The findings highlight the critical impact of socio-economic factors on adolescents' nutritional status. .......

Evaluating the Impact of Home Economics Teachers' Entrepreneurial Activities on Family Economic Stability and Well-Being in Northeast Nigeria

This study examines the impact of entrepreneurial activities of Home Economics teachers on family economic stability and well-being in Northeast Nigeria. Home Economics, as a field, encompasses various disciplines such as nutrition, home management, and consumer education, aiming to improve the quality of life for individuals and families. In Northeast Nigeria, Home Economics teachers often engage in entrepreneurial activities, leveraging their expertise to supplement their income and enhance their families' economic stability. This study evaluates the extent to which these entrepreneurial endeavors contribute to family income, food security, and overall quality of life. Using a cross-sectional survey design, data were collected from Home Economics teachers across Adamawa, Bauchi, Borno, Gombe, Taraba, and Yobe states. A sample of 200 teachers was selected through multistage sampling. The study employed both descriptive and inferential statistics to analyze the data, including paired samples t-tests and W-statistics to test the hypotheses at a 0.05 level of significance. The findings reveal that entrepreneurial activities significantly enhance family economic stability and well-being. Teachers engaged in ventures such as catering, textile and fashion businesses, and home management consultancy experienced notable improvements in family income, food security, and overall quality of life. The study underscores the importance of supporting entrepreneurial initiatives among Home Economics teachers to foster economic resilience and social development in the region. The results provide valuable insights for policymakers, educators, and community leaders to integrate entrepreneurial education within the Home Economics curriculum, thereby promoting sustainable development in Northeast Nigeria.

Long COVID and the Higher Risk of Food Insecurity Among Participants and Nonparticipants of Food Assistance Programs in the United States

BackgroundIn the aftermath of the COVID-19 public health emergency, it is important to understand the extent of socioeconomic burdens of long COVID, defined as continuation of symptoms after initial infection, including food insecurity. ObjectiveThis study aimed to assess the association between long COVID and family food insecurity among low-income individuals (or any of their family members living with them) who were participants and nonparticipants in public food assistance programs (Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program [SNAP], Special Supplemental Nutrition Program for Women, Infants, and Children [WIC], and National School Lunch Program [NSLP]) in the United States. DesignThe study used an observational cross-sectional design. Participants/settingData on 7151 adults (aged 18+ years), with family income of < 200% of the Federal Poverty line, from the 2022 National Health Interview Survey, were analyzed. Main outcome measuresLevel of family food security, based on responses to a set of 10 questions measuring family’s food security during the past 30 days. Statistical analyses performedMultinomial logistic regression models were estimated to obtain relative risk ratios of marginal and low/very low food security, relative to the base outcome of high food security, for long COVID status. Multivariable models were estimated separately for the full sample and for subgroups of food assistance participants and nonparticipants. A seemingly unrelated regression (SUR) specification was estimated to assess whether the estimates were different across the participant and nonparticipant subgroups. ResultsCompared with individuals who never had COVID-19, the adjusted relative risks of experiencing marginal and low/very low food security were 1.42 (95% CI, 1.00–2.02) and 1.43 (95% CI, 1.08–1.91) times higher, respectively, for individuals who had long COVID. Although the adjusted risks were not observed to be statistically significant in the participant subgroup, among nonparticipants, adjusted relative risk ratios were 2.34 (95% CI, 1.43–3.82) and 1.56 (95% CI, 1.02–2.39), respectively. SUR results showed that relationships between long COVID and food insecurity were only different for marginal and not low/very low levels of food security between food assistance participant and nonparticipant groups. ConclusionsStudy findings highlight a significantly higher risk of marginal and low/very low- food security among low-income adults who had long COVID, especially those who were nonparticipants in public food assistance programs. Further research is warranted to explore the causal pathways of this relationship for informing policies to mitigate the burden of long COVID.

The Association Between Child Food Allergy and Family Food Insecurity in a Nationally Representative US Sample

ObjectiveTo assess whether child food allergy is associated with family food insecurity, overall, and across different income levels. MethodsWe used the 2011–2018 National Health Interview Survey, a nationally representative cross-sectional survey. The exposure was child food allergy, and our main outcome was odds of family food insecurity, which was calculated using multivariable logistic regression models adjusted for child demographics, family characteristics and survey year. We examined for effect modification by the ratio of family income to the poverty threshold using stratification and tests for statistical interaction. ResultsAmong 83,287 children 6% had food allergy and 22% experienced family food insecurity. Child food allergy was associated with a 1.39-fold (95% confidence interval [CI]: 1.26, 1.53) increased odds of family food insecurity overall. Child food allergy was associated with a 1.46-fold (95% CI: 1.29, 1.66) increased odds of family food insecurity among children whose families lived below 200% of the federal poverty level, and a 1.26-fold (95% CI: 1.05, 1.51) increased odds of family food insecurity among children whose families lived at 200 to 399% of the federal poverty level, with no association among children whose families lived at or above 400% of the federal poverty level (P = .04 for interaction). ConclusionThere is an association between child food allergy and family food insecurity, and this association is modified by the ratio of family income to the poverty threshold. Improved availability and subsidy of allergen-free foods in nutrition assistance programs and food pantries are urgently needed.

Ethnobotanical study of wild edible plants in Arsi Robe district of East Arsi Zone, Ethiopia

BackgroundWild edible plants (WEPs) are usually considered to constitute all plant resources that are neither cultivated nor domesticated but are used as nutritional supplements by local people. WEPs play a vital role in ensuring food and livelihood security for countless families and communities around the world. The objective of the study was to assess and document wild edible plants used by communities in the Arsi Robe district as food.MethodsSemi-structured interviews, market surveys, and guided field walks were employed as data collection tools. The data were analyzed using preference ranking, direct matrix ranking, and Jaccard’s similarity index.ResultsThe present study revealed various types of wild edible plants consumed by local communities in the Arsi Robe district of the East Arsi Zone. This could be justified by the documentation of 36 different wild edible plants in the study area. These WEPs belong to 31 genera and 25 families. Most of the growth forms of the edible wild plants in the district were shrubs (16, 44.44%) and trees (14, 38.88%). Amaranthus caudatus and Bridelia micrantha are the most preferred WEPs in the study area. The finding of the study also revealed that Lepidotrichilia volkensii and Premna schimperi are among the novel WEPs that had not before been documented as food items in other areas. Olea europaea subsp. cuspidata, Ficus sycomorus, Cordia africana, and Ficus sur are species with multiple uses. Agricultural expansion, charcoal production, the construction of different materials, making agricultural tools, deforestation, and other factors were the top prioritized threats affecting the abundance and diversity of wild edible plants.ConclusionAlong with the sustainable utilization and conservation of the existing WEPs of the study district, priority should be given to the urgent collection, domestication, and cultivation of multiuse wild edible plant species such as Olea europaea subsp. cuspidata, Ficus sycomorus, Cordia africana, and Ficus sur in the study area.

Impacts of the COVID-19 pandemic on HIV care and treatment services among adolescents attending a tertiary hospital in Dar es Salaam, Tanzania: a qualitative study

BackgroundThe COVID-19 pandemic has caused substantial disruption on HIV care and treatment programmes, especially for adolescents living with HIV (ALHIV) who are known to have poorer health outcomes compared with...

Pemanfaatan Kebun Pangan Lokal untuk Meningkatkan Ketahanan Pangan Keluarga dan Mencegah Stunting

Stunting is a form of inhibited child growth process caused by a lack of chronic nutrient intake and recurrent infectious diseases. Consuming nutritious food is one of the keys to preventing stunting. The local food plants became one of the alternatives to getting nutritious sources of food. The purpose of dedication to this community is to empower and prosper families by conducting training on the use of local food gardens in the home market as well as the creation of local MP-ASI. The program emphasizes the empowerment efforts of families that focus on mothers as the tip of the effort to reduce stunting in the community by exploiting the outcomes of the market around the house in order to add nutritional value to the family food especially the newborn. As for Kalurahan Pandowoharjo, Kapanewon Sleman, Sleman District selected as the target location based on consideration that this area includes the focus of stunting handling in Sleman district and is a model of the village Friendly to Women and Caring for Children. As a result of dedication to this community, there has been an increase in knowledge whereas the mother's skill from the beginning did not have the skills in growing crops in the home and made the local MP-ASI to become skilled in growing food crops especially vegetables and fruits in the marketplace of the home with polybag media and also became skilled at preparing local MP-ASI by paying attention to the age, quantity, frequency, consistency and variation of food.

The Pediatrician's Role in Preventing Child Maltreatment: Clinical Report.

Pediatricians have always seen the value of preventing health harms; this should be no less true for child maltreatment than for disease or unintentional injuries. Research continues to demonstrate that maltreatment can be prevented, underscoring the vital roles of both the family and society in healthy childhood development and the importance of strong, stable, nurturing relationships in preventing maltreatment and building the child's resilience to adversity. This clinical report elaborates the pediatrician's multitiered role in supporting relational health from infancy through adolescence, from universal interventions assessing for maltreatment risks and protective factors to targeted interventions addressing identified needs and building on strengths. When maltreatment has already occurred, interventions can prevent further victimization and mitigate long-term sequelae. Advice is provided on engaging community resources, including those that provide food, shelter, or financial support for families in need.