[The following section is from WHO, 2024]

Child maltreatment occurs all over the world and has serious lifelong consequences. People who have suffered maltreatment as children are more prone to a wide variety of negative health outcomes, including all kinds of injuries and severe disability, post-traumatic stress, anxiety, depression, and sexually transmitted infections (including HIV).

Adolescent girls may face additional health issues, including gynecological disorders and unwanted pregnancy. Child maltreatment can affect cognitive and academic performance and is strongly associated with alcohol, drug abuse, and smoking—key risk factors for noncommunicable diseases such as cardiovascular disease and cancer.

Maltreatment causes stress that is associated with disruption in early brain development. Extreme stress can impair the development of the nervous and immune systems. Consequently, as adults, maltreated children are at increased risk for behavioral, physical and mental health problems such as:

• perpetrating or being a victim of violence
• depression
• smoking
• obesity
• high-risk sexual behaviors
• unintended pregnancy
• alcohol and drug misuse.

Violence against children is also a contributor to inequalities in education. Children who experienced any form of violence in childhood have a 13% greater likelihood of not graduating from school. Beyond the health, social and educational consequences of child maltreatment, there is an economic impact, including costs of hospitalization, mental health treatment, child welfare, and longer-term health costs.