Child abuse is generally the mistreatment of a child by a parent or caregiver—through actions or inactions—that causes injury, death, or emotional harm to the child—or that places the child at serious risk of such injury, death, or emotional harm. Mistreatment that constitutes child abuse may take many forms, including neglect, physical abuse, sexual abuse, emotional abuse, failure to supervise, and exploitation. Child abuse laws vary from state to state and are usually located in a state’s family code and criminal or penal code.

In Iowa, child abuse is defined under both civil and criminal statutes. The Iowa Code section 232.68 outlines the definition of child abuse for civil proceedings, which includes any nonaccidental physical injury, mental injury, sexual abuse, neglect, or abandonment of a child by a parent, guardian, or caretaker. The law also covers the presence of illegal drugs in a child's body as a result of the actions of a caregiver. Under criminal law, perpetrators of child abuse can face charges ranging from misdemeanor child endangerment to felony-level offenses, depending on the severity of the abuse. Iowa law mandates that certain professionals, such as teachers and healthcare workers, must report suspected child abuse to the Department of Human Services. Failure to report can result in penalties. The state takes child abuse seriously and has systems in place for the protection of children, including investigation by the Department of Human Services and potential involvement of the juvenile court system.