title: Cultural considerations and child maltreatment: in search of universal principles.
abstract: Cultural diversity poses challenges within the health care setting, particularly regarding the question of how health professionals can resolve the tension between respecting cultural norms or child-rearing practices and the importance of determining what constitutes harm and child maltreatment. Cultural competency and respect for cultural diversity does not imply universal tolerance of all practices. The United Nations provides a standard of universal child rights, protecting them from harmful practices. Pediatric providers must respect cross-cultural differences while maintaining legal and ethical standards of safety and wellbeing for children, promoting evidence-based prevention of maltreatment, and advocating for child wellness across all cultures.
authors.affiliation: Child Abuse Pediatrics, Harbor-UCLA Medical Center, 1000 West Carson Street, Box 437, Torrance, CA 90509, USA. Electronic address: gkolhatkar@labiomed.org.
authors.forename: Gauri
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Kolhatkar
authors.affiliation: Department of Pediatrics, Harbor-UCLA Medical Center, David Geffen School of Medicine at UCLA, 1000 West Carson Street, Box 437, Torrance, CA 90509, USA.
authors.forename: Carol
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Berkowitz
mesh_terms: D002648:Child; D002649:Child Abuse / Q000175:diagnosis*; D003469:Culture; D006801:Humans; D016487:Parenting; D011678:Punishment
keywords: Child abuse and neglect; Child maltreatment; Corporal punishment; Cultural competence; Culture; Physical discipline; Universal child rights