scholarly journals Prevention and contrast of child abuse and neglect in the practice of European paediatricians: a multi-national pilot study

2021 ◽  
Vol 47 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Paola Nigri ◽  
Giovanni Corsello ◽  
Luigi Nigri ◽  
Donjeta Bali ◽  
Giorgina Kuli-Lito ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Public Health ◽  
Child Abuse ◽  
Pilot Study ◽  
Child Maltreatment ◽  
Univariate Analysis ◽  
Child Abuse And Neglect ◽  
Public Health Problem ◽  
Medical Settings ◽  
Abuse And Neglect ◽  
Shared Risk

Abstract Background Child abuse and neglect, or maltreatment, is a serious public health problem, which may cause long-term effects on children’s health and wellbeing and expose them to further adulthood vulnerabilities. Studies on child maltreatment performed in Europe are scarce, and the number of participants enrolled relatively small. The aim of this multi-national European pilot study, was to evaluate the level of understanding and perception of the concepts of child abuse and neglect by European paediatricians working in different medical settings, and the attitude toward these forms of maltreatment in their practice. Methods The study was performed by a cross-sectional, descriptive, online survey, made available online to European paediatricians members of 50 national paediatric, who belonged to four different medical settings: hospital, family care, university centres and private practice. The questionnaire, designed as a multiple choice questions survey, with a single answer option consisted of 22 questions/statements. Frequency analyses were applied. Most of the data were described using univariate analysis and Chi-squared tests were used to compare the respondents and answers and a significance level of p ≤ 0.05 applied. Results Findings show that European paediatricians consider the training on child maltreatment currently provided by medical school curricula and paediatric residency courses to be largely insufficient and continuing education courses were considered of great importance to cover educational gaps. Physical violence was recognized by paediatricians mostly during occasional visits with a significant correlation between detecting abuse during an occasional visit and being a primary care paediatrician. Results also showed a reluctance by paediatricians to report cases of maltreatment to the competent judicial authorities. Conclusions Data of this study may provide useful contribution to the current limited knowledge about the familiarity of European paediatricians with child maltreatment and their skills to recognize, manage and contrast abusive childhood experiences in their practice. Finally, they could provide local legislators and health authorities with information useful to further improve public health approaches and rules able to effectively address shared risk and protective factors, which could prevent child abuse and neglect from ever occurring.

scholarly journals Prevention and Contrast of Child Abuse and Neglect in the Practice of European Paediatricians: a Multi-national Pilot Study

2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
Massimo Pettoello-Mantovani ◽  
Nigri Paola ◽  
Corsello Giovanni ◽  
Nigri Luigi ◽  
Bali Donjeta ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Public Health ◽  
Child Abuse ◽  
Pilot Study ◽  
Child Maltreatment ◽  
Univariate Analysis ◽  
Child Abuse And Neglect ◽  
Public Health Problem ◽  
Medical Settings ◽  
Abuse And Neglect ◽  
Shared Risk

Abstract Background: Child abuse and neglect, or maltreatment, is a serious public health problem, which may cause long-term effects on children’s health and wellbeing and expose them to further adulthood vulnerabilities. Studies on child maltreatment performed in Europe are scarce, and the number of participants enrolled relatively small. The aim of this multi-national European pilot study, was to evaluate the level of understanding and perception of the concepts of child abuse and neglect by European paediatricians working in different medical settings, and the attitude toward these forms of maltreatment in their practice.Methods: The study was performed by a cross-sectional, descriptive, online survey, made available online to European paediatricians members of 50 national paediatric, who belonged to four different medical settings: hospital, family care, university centres and private practice. The questionnaire, designed as a multiple choice questions survey, with a single answer option consisted of 22 questions/statements. Frequency analyses were applied. Most of the data were described using univariate analysis and Chi-squared tests were used to compare the respondents and answers and a significance level of p ≤ 0.05 applied.Results: Findings show that European paediatricians consider the training on child maltreatment currently provided by medical school curricula and paediatric residency courses to be largely insufficient and continuing education courses were considered of great importance to cover educational gaps. Physical violence was recognized by paediatricians mostly during occasional visits with a significant correlation between detecting abuse during an occasional visit and being a primary care paediatrician. Results also showed a reluctance by paediatricians to report cases of maltreatment to the competent judicial authorities.Conclusions: Data of this study may provide useful contribution to the current limited knowledge about the familiarity of European paediatricians with child maltreatment and their skills to recognize, manage and contrast abusive childhood experiences in their practice. Finally, they could provide local legislators and health authorities with information useful to further improve public health approaches and rules able to effectively address shared risk and protective factors, which could prevent child abuse and neglect from ever occurring.

Intergenerational Transmission of Maltreatment

Social Work ◽  
2019 ◽  
Author(s):  
Becci Akin ◽  
Michelle Johnson-Motoyama ◽  
Nancy Jo Kepple ◽  
Shelby Clark
Keyword(s):  
Public Health ◽  
Child Abuse ◽  
Child Maltreatment ◽  
Longitudinal Studies ◽  
Intergenerational Transmission ◽  
Adolescent Mothers ◽  
Child Abuse And Neglect ◽  
The United States ◽  
World Health ◽  
Abuse And Neglect

According to the World Health Organization, one in four adults report a history of physical maltreatment, and an estimated 41,000 children under the age of 15 die due to homicide death. Although the majority of children who are maltreated will not continue this pattern as parents of their own children, the need to prevent child maltreatment is significant. Child abuse and neglect are public health problems that can lead to morbidity and mortality in childhood and increased risk for health concerns into adulthood such as alcoholism, smoking, and drug abuse; depression and suicide; high-risk sexual behaviors; sexually transmitted diseases; and certain chronic diseases. As a single country example of the costly public health problem, the total lifetime economic burden resulting from new cases of fatal and nonfatal child maltreatment in the United States has been estimated to be above $120 billion. In an attempt to understand why and how some individuals who are abused and neglected continue this cycle, the intergenerational transmission of child maltreatment has long been a topic of great interest. Understanding the pathways to child abuse and neglect is necessary for disrupting the intergenerational cycles of maltreatment. Given that childhood exposure to maltreatment has long-term consequences and significant costs to society, knowledge of these pathways is critical for developing strategies for early identification, engagement of children and parents, prevention, and intervention. This article provides an overview of select resources for developing a foundational understanding of intergenerational transmission of child maltreatment. First, published literature on Theoretical Reviews and Conceptual Frameworks are provided. Selected articles present varying views on key theories and concepts that guide current understandings of the intergenerational transmission of child maltreatment. Following the theory overview is a section of selected Reviews of Empirical Studies, including literature reviews guided by well-defined methodological criteria, systematic reviews, and meta-analyses. Next is a section that provides Methodological Examples, including subsections of selected Cross-Sectional Studies on varying topics and populations related to the generational continuity of maltreatment, Longitudinal Studies on Adult Subsequent Maltreatment of Children, Longitudinal Studies on Adult Subsequent Parenting Characteristics and Practices, and Qualitative Studies. Then, a section on special interests is presented (i.e., Population, Problem-Specific, or Other Special Interest Studies), comprising the topics of Biological and Neurological Factors, Intimate Partner Violence, Adolescent Mothers, and International Studies. Finally, the last four sections include select resource lists for Journals, Textbooks, Organizations, and Websites that may be helpful for identifying additional articles and other resources on the intergenerational transmission of child maltreatment.

Risk Factors in Child Abuse and Neglect

2019 ◽  
pp. 75-94
Author(s):  
Lea Tufford
Keyword(s):  
Risk Factors ◽  
Child Abuse ◽  
Child Maltreatment ◽  
Child Abuse And Neglect ◽  
Community Support ◽  
Environmental Situation ◽  
Abuse And Neglect

This chapter examines the risk factors for child abuse and neglect from the perspective of the child, parent, family, community, and culture. There are many issues that may contribute to child abuse, but some factors increase the risk to children and make them more vulnerable to abuse. They can be found in the background of parents, in the environmental situation, and in attributes of the child themselves. The child’s culture and level of community support may also be risk factors in child abuse and/or neglect. Risk factors are characteristics associated with child maltreatment and may or may not be direct causes.

What evidence is there that parenting interventions reduce child abuse and neglect among maltreating families? A systematic review

2019 ◽  
Vol 1 (4) ◽  
pp. 374-393
Author(s):  
Sarah Whitcombe-Dobbs ◽  
Michael Tarren-Sweeney
Keyword(s):  
Child Abuse ◽  
Child Maltreatment ◽  
Selection Criteria ◽  
Research Question ◽  
Child Abuse And Neglect ◽  
Intervention Group ◽  
Future Research ◽  
Parenting Interventions ◽  
Significant Difference ◽  
Abuse And Neglect

In families where child abuse and neglect have already occurred, there is a strong imperative to provide interventions that reduce or eliminate harm done to children. Parenting programs lack tailoring for the needs of maltreating parents, and maltreating parents themselves are a heterogeneous group with varying needs. The literature on the effectiveness of parenting interventions for high-risk parents is limited, and this scarcity of knowledge can result in child protection cases being treated as a natural experiment. For children who experience ongoing maltreatment by their parents, the most stringent test for effectiveness goes beyond an improvement in positive parenting skills—child abuse and neglect must reduce or be eliminated. The present review addressed the research question What evidence is there that parenting interventions conducted with parents who maltreat their children, reduce the incidence of further child maltreatment? Databases were searched for trials of parenting interventions where participants were maltreating parents and outcome data included an objective measure of child abuse and neglect. Nine studies satisfied the selection criteria and are summarized. Four studies reported a statistically significant difference between groups in favor of the intervention group for two parenting interventions, Parent–Child Interaction Therapy and SafeCare. However, the review concludes that none of the reviewed parenting interventions have been demonstrated to be effective at reducing all types of child maltreatment through a high-quality RCT. Previous research is compromised by several critical methodological limitations, including low participant recruitment and retention, and narrow selection criteria. Recommendations are offered for future research on parenting interventions that aim to reduce child abuse and neglect.

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