Adverse childhood experiences : healthcare policy and economics implications

Child Maltreatment (CM) is unfortunately a widespread phenomenon with pervasive and remarkable effects not only on the psychological, social growth of children, but also for the economy, because of a wide range of direct and indirect health costs and productivity losses for the society. The paper intends to offer a review of the existing studies on economic evaluation of CM, quite few and with very differentiated results in terms of used methodology, definition and underestimation of the costs, comparability at international level. Resources are completely absorbed by protective rather than preventive services, and this re-veals a poor attention for economic savings by policy makers. Expanding knowledge on the cost-benefit analysis applied to CM prevention programs is critical in stimulating further research and investment on this front. [Publisher's Text].