Primary Care Interventions to Prevent Child Maltreatment: US Preventive Services Task Force Recommendation Statement

Description: Update of the child abuse and neglect portion of the 2004 U.S. Preventive Services Task Force (USPSTF) recommendation statement on screening for family and intimate partner violence. Methods: The USPSTF commissioned a systematic review on interventions to prevent child maltreatment for children at risk, focusing on new studies and evidence gaps that were unresolved at the time of the 2004 recommendation. Beneficial outcomes considered include reduced exposure to maltreatment and reduced harms to physical or mental health or mortality. Population: This recommendation applies to children in the general U.S. population from newborn to age 18 years who do not have signs or symptoms of maltreatment. Recommendation: The USPSTF concludes that the current evidence is insufficient to assess the balance of benefits and harms of primary care interventions to prevent child maltreatment. (I statement)