Pediatric ATI Practice Exam

What finding places a child at a higher risk for abuse during a well-child visit?

1. The child is 6 years old.

2. The child is male.

3. The child was born at 30 weeks of gestation.

4. The child was born via cesarean birth.

The correct answer is: The child was born at 30 weeks of gestation.

Identifying a child at higher risk for abuse during a well-child visit often involves understanding specific factors related to the child's medical history and circumstances surrounding their growth and development. A child born at 30 weeks of gestation, which classifies them as a preterm infant, can experience a range of challenges related to their health, development, and family dynamics. Preterm infants may have medical needs that require extensive care and attention, which can place additional stress on parents or caregivers. This increased stress can sometimes lead to a higher risk of abuse, especially if the caregivers are struggling to cope with the challenges of caring for a child with special needs. Furthermore, children with disabilities or chronic health conditions are statistically more likely to be victims of abuse, which emphasizes the need for providers to closely monitor the well-being of preterm children and their families. In contrast, age and gender alone do not inherently increase the risk of abuse. While certain demographic factors can correlate with abuse risk, they do not provide as significant insight into the potential for abuse as does the child's health background, specifically prematurity. The method of birth, such as being born via cesarean section, also does not inherently indicate an increased risk for abuse. Thus, the specifics of a child's