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The effects of violence on infants and young children: International perspectives on prevention
Author(s) -
Celia Salvador,
Alves Marta,
Behs Beatriz,
Nudelmann Carmen,
Saraiva Jane
Publication year - 1993
Publication title -
infant mental health journal
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.693
H-Index - 75
eISSN - 1097-0355
pISSN - 0163-9641
DOI - 10.1002/1097-0355(199322)14:2<96::aid-imhj2280140203>3.0.co;2-e
Subject(s) - poverty , functional illiteracy , disadvantaged , population , psychological intervention , economic growth , multidisciplinary approach , malnutrition , political science , psychology , development economics , medicine , sociology , environmental health , economics , psychiatry , social science , law
Multiple factors contribute to violence, and only a multidisciplinary approach can be used to deal with this situation. Strategic errors committed by governments, such as not giving priority to basic health care or education, and foreign obligations producing severe economic recession, cause the people, especially children, to be subjected to political and social violence. Poverty and its associated risks are linked to violence. However, not all people living in poverty present problems of violence. Some results of living in poverty are high rates of child mortality, illiteracy, malnutrition, excessive population growth, street children, and the disintegration of families. Weak or nonexistent family ties can lead to frustration and hopelessness. In Brazil, an integrated action program was developed for at‐risk individuals and their families, based upon the idea of building and reinforcing family ties and intergenerational togetherness. Undernourished infants, street children, the handicapped, women subjected to violence, and neglected senior citizens received special interventions as part of the program described.