The psychological and psychodynamic characteristics of the pertinent medico-legal issues are also reviewed and types of injuries resulting from physical abuse (skin, bone, visceral, eye and head) are described. The extent of the problem in England, Canada, and the U.S. is difficult to determine due to problems of establishing the relation between the number of actual cases compared to the number of reported cases. Causation is discussed in terms of psychodynamic, personality or character traits and social learning models. Other factors leading to child abuse are discussed according to family structure, environmental stress, and mental illness. Essentially, the aim of management is to ascertain the causes of family malfunction and overcome them. The dual aim underlying treatment is to protect the child and hopefully rehabilitate the parents. The management emphasis must be on protecting the child, since two aims cannot always be reconciled. Management of child abuse cases depends on proper medical attention and special understanding, tact, and skills on the part of the hospital-based team of specialists who interview the parents. Team members include a pediatrician, a psychiatrist, a nurse, a social worker, and a psychologist. Although emphasis remains on treating the abused or neglected child and the parents after the act has occurred, the ideal goal is the prevention of initial abuse or neglect. To this end, society and parents must accept the responsibility that children have the right to grow and develop normally. Interdisciplinary cooperation and coordination in the education of allied health professionals working in this field must be strengthened. Services that provide relief to stressed parents, emergency child care, and training in child-rearing, counseling, and household management must be expanded and adequately funded. Good family life must be publicized and promoted. Realistic and practical courses for male and female children should be taught in such subjects as childrearing and child care, family life, marriage, responsibilities of parenthood, homemaking, and management of finances. Children's centers, offering health and social services, including prenatal care to preschool children and their parents must be established to serve prevention, early detection, and correction of medical and social problems. Thirty-three references are appended. (Author abstract modified).