Physically abused children and their families. A 5-year follow-up study.

Thirty-two Coloured families were assessed 5 years after their referral to the Red Cross War Memorial Children's Hospital, Cape Town, because of the physical abuse of one of their children. Although continuation of the physical abuse was not found at follow-up, in two-thirds of the families the environment was as bad as or worse than it had been in 1977, and emotional abuse prevailed. Many of the parents had separated, and 3 of the children had been placed in foster care. The difficulties involved in managing multiproblem families are discussed.