The ill-treatment and the children's abandonment does refetrencia to the physical or mental damage, sexual abuse, negligent dealing or maltreatment of a child younger than 18 years on the part of a person who is responsible for the well-being of the child.

Although it could seem incredible at first sight, the ill-treatment and the abandonment of the children are problems frightfully frequent in the world. The incidence is difficult to determine exactly, but million children can turn implied every year.
In terms of cold numbers, the abandonment is from 10 to 15 times more frequent than the ill-treatment. In all the social classes and races these incidents take place, although the children in poverty situation suffer the abandonment with a 12 times higher frequency. 25 % of the cases affects children younger than 2 years. Both sexes fall ill equally. 20 % of the children physically battered remain injured persons of permanent form.

The ill-treatment is usually caused by the mistake of the control of the impulses of the father or guard. 4 taxpaying factors are recognized:

1. Typical of the personality of the parents. Parents in turn battered, drug addicts, alcoholics, psychotic.
2. "Different" child. Irritable, demanding, hyperactive children... The disabled children, often more clerks and needed from care, are capable.
3. A crisis. Sometimes the stress of a situation can unleash the ill-treatment.
4. Familiar isolation. Lacking in relatives, friends, neighbors or partners who provide a physical and psychological support in the moments of stress.

Very often, the adult who abuses a child is biologically related or belongs to the narrow circle of the family (incest). When young children are implied, the aggression is almost always without violence and repetitive, and it can be concealed completely by a collaboration conspired inside the family.
The problem is complicated: The biggest children can be threatened with physical aggressions by the aggressor if they "speak" and, therefore, to conceal repeated attacks. It is possible that there are no physical injury indications and that the behavior of the child (irritability, timidity, insomnia or other problems of conduct) is the only key.

The doctors are forced for the law to communicate the incidents in which ill-treatment or abandonment could be suspected in any child that they examine or treat. The reports are carried out usually to an agency specially destined for the protection of the child.
The pursuit is complex. The families of the battered or godforsaken children change domicile often, which is very difficult the continuity of the assistance for doctors and educators. Often they do not come to the appointments and the visits can be necessary to domicile for a social worker.
If the frame of the proper hearth contains risk raised for the health of the child, if the ill-treatment victim has <1 year or if the work with the family does not progress, can be indicated the temporary, or even definitive separation.

The knowledge of the circumstances that can provoke the ill-treatment and the abandonment of the children helps to identify certain families exposed to risk in the community. To be alert opposite to these key situations and to be capable of offering support can allow to avoid tragic events.
The nursery schools for small children can relieve a mother with stress, allowing him to have for herself of a few daily hours.
In some communities help programs have developed to the parents, using the not professional people prepared to be related closely to the parents aggressors or negligent persons.