A demographic profile of Mexico, including the infant mortality rate, is followed by a case study of a 9-year-old "street" child who was abandoned by his parents. A historical review covers the nature of child abuse in Mexico before the Spanish conquest, after the conquest, and in modern Mexican society. The definition of child abuse among Mexican professionals who identify and treat abuse is discussed, followed by an overview of child protection and legal innovations, including child protective services, child protective legislation, prevention measures, and investigative and remedial services. Other sections of the chapter describe treatment techniques and prevention measures. Overall, although there have been significant advances in recent years, given the pervasiveness of the problem, Mexico is still lagging behind what other countries are doing to help and protect children. Generally, the citizenry does not perceive child abuse to be a significant social problem. Mexico has yet to enact Federal legislation to help prevent various forms of child abuse. In addition, there should be a national organization with the responsibility for compiling all information on child abuse and neglect. More work must be done in identifying and responding to those social problems that foster child abuse and neglect, such as poverty, unemployment, malnutrition, child exploitation, and overcrowded living conditions. 43 references