Prevalence Of Child Maltreatment Research Articles

Examining the Impact and Prevalence of Child Abuse and Neglect in Nkpor-uno, Anambra State, Nigeria.

This study investigates the prevalence and impact of child abuse and neglect in Nkpor-uno, located in the Idemili North Local Government Area of Anambra State, highlighting a critical issue with profound lifelong implications. With a focus on understanding the scope of child abuse and neglect within this community, the research adopts a methodological framework guided by the principles of social learning theory. The study's objectives were pursued through the analysis of data collected from a purposively sampled group of 100 parents and caregivers out of a targeted population of 1,000 residents. Utilizing a specially designed structured questionnaire, the study employed quantitative methods, specifically frequency counts, means, and standard deviations, to analyze the collected data. The findings of the research are alarming, indicating a 91% prevalence rate of child abuse and neglect in Nkpor-uno, which underscores the urgent need for comprehensive strategies to address this crisis. Based on these results, the study proposes a multifaceted approach to combat child abuse and neglect. It calls for a collaborative effort involving parents, caregivers, educational administrators, healthcare professionals, non-governmental organizations, and governmental bodies. The aim is to foster a supportive environment that not only prevents child abuse and neglect but also ensures the rehabilitation and well-being of affected children. This study contributes to the broader discourse on child welfare and serves as a call to action for all stakeholders to prioritize and address the issue of child abuse and neglect in Nkpor-uno and beyond.

Child maltreatment among deaf and hard-of-hearing adolescent students: associations with depression and anxiety.

Child abuse and neglect have several short- and long-term consequences for the victim. Though Deaf and Hard-of-Hearing children are at higher risk of being maltreated as compared to hearing children, little research in Saudi Arabia has focused on this population. To determine the prevalence of child maltreatment and to examine its association with depression and anxiety among a sample of Deaf and Hard-of-Hearing students in Saudi Arabia, recruited from secondary schools in southern Saudi Arabia. The sample included 186 Deaf and Hard-of-Hearing students aged 14-17 years (M = 15.7 years; SD = 3.41 years). Data were collected using the Child Abuse Self-Report Scale, Center for Epidemiological Studies Depression Scale for Children, and Generalized Anxiety Disorder Questionnaire. Bivariate and Linear regression analyses were conducted using SPSS 20. About 47.3% of the students were exposed severe to very severe child maltreatment. The severity of maltreatment varied based on parents' educational and income level, number of children in the family, the Deaf and Hard-of-Hearing student's gender, and parents' hearing status. Linear regression analysis indicated that child maltreatment was a significant predictor of depression and anxiety in this sample. Considering the socio-demographic factors influencing the prevalence of maltreatment in the present study, it seems important to work with parents of Deaf and Hard-of-Hearing children to improve their skills in rearing a child with special needs. Addressing the social stigma and social barriers experienced by DHH individuals through familial, institutional, and community interventions may be a first step toward long-term prevention of maltreatment among DHH children.

Underreporting child maltreatment during the pandemic: Evidence from Colorado

As a result of the COVID-19 pandemic, schools closed abruptly in March 2020, and Colorado issued a stay-at-home order during the month of April. Subsequently, child maltreatment reporting dropped by 31 percent. This article documents the decline in referrals and reports during 2020 and 2021 in Colorado and predicts counterfactual estimates using two strategies. One strategy assumes the underlying behavior for child maltreatment was unchanged from 2019 to 2020 and 2021, while the second strategy assumes the economic distress and protective factors brought about by the pandemic altered the underlying prevalence of child maltreatment. Consequently, these two approaches yield similar results when investigating referrals, but they differ when investigating screened-in referrals and substantiated reports. I find that the largest reduction in reporting comes from the stay-at-home order, followed by school closings. Lastly, counterfactual estimates suggest that these missed children were suffering from neglect and not abuse. These findings quantify another hardship brought about by the pandemic, underreporting child maltreatment, and underscore the role mandatory reporters play in detecting child maltreatment.

Cultural Understanding and the Impact of Domestic Violence Against Children in Uganda Communities: A Case Study of Child Maltreatment in Busoga and Acholi Regions

Child maltreatment is a grave concern affecting societies worldwide, with its impact extending across generations. This study delves into the intricate interplay of cultural, socio-economic, and institutional factors contributing to child maltreatment in Uganda's Busoga and Acholi regions. Guided by the case study methodology, the research examines the prevalence of child maltreatment, the influence of cultural norms and practices, the roles of cultural and religious leaders, and the challenges within the child protection system.The findings reveal alarming statistics, highlighting the pervasiveness of child maltreatment, including corporal punishment in schools, child defilement, sexual violence, and child labor. The socio-economic context, particularly in northern Uganda, amplifies children's vulnerabilities due to poverty, disease, conflict, and the prevalence of orphans. Cultural norms and traditions significantly shape disciplinary practices, emphasizing community involvement in child upbringing. Local cultural and religious leaders influence child discipline structures and advocate for children's rights. However, despite theoretical approaches to child protection, practical implementation lags, and identifying perpetrators remains challenging. Poor documentation and resource constraints hinder effective responses to child maltreatment, leading to a resource allocation disparity between urban and rural areas.The implications of child maltreatment are profound, affecting children's physical, psychological, and emotional well-being, potentially leading to long-term consequences. The study recommends collaborative efforts involving government bodies, NGOs, cultural and religious leaders, and communities. Culturally sensitive interventions, practical implementation of child protection measures, and equitable resource allocation are vital components of a holistic approach.

An Assessment of Trends in Parenting and Child Outcomes in a Rural South African Community and Consequent Intervention Design

The high prevalence of child maltreatment requires innovative, scaleable solutions. Three community-wide surveys (2012, 2013, and 2016) in Touwsranten, South Africa, assessed parents’ positive parenting and corporal punishment; their mental health, substance misuse, parenting stress and intimate partner violence; children’s mental health; and interest in parenting support, in preparation for an intervention to support positive parenting. The first two surveys followed parents longitudinally. Focus group discussions were also held in 2017. Across surveys one and two, corporal punishment and positive parenting were reported as frequent. Child and parent mental health problems, parenting stress, intimate partner violence, and risky alcohol use increased across surveys 1 and 2 and remained steady at the third survey. Survey 3 revealed no change in corporal punishment, parent or child mental health, or intimate partner violence; reports of risky alcohol use and parenting stress increased; and there was a small increase in use of positive parenting strategies. Qualitative data suggested that corporal punishment, alcohol use, and intimate partner violence may have been under-reported. Parents indicated a desire for parenting support. The consequent intervention design included the delivery of four parenting programs alongside a social activation process intended to amplify the message of parenting programs, with the intention of increasing positive parenting and reducing corporal punishment community-wide.

Adverse Childhood Experiences and Treatability in Dutch Patients with Cluster B Personality Disorders Mandated to Forensic Clinical Care: A Comparison of Men Convicted for Sexual and Violent Offenses

Adverse childhood experiences (ACEs) have been consistently linked to interpersonal violence and are highly prevalent in correctional populations, particularly in men who perpetrate (sexual) violent behavior. Although exposure to ACEs is common in men who perpetrate interpersonal violence, less is known about the differences between men who commit sexual versus non-sexual violence. This cross-sectional study reports on the differences in prevalence of adverse childhood experiences in Dutch men who committed sexual offenses (N = 29) versus those who committed (non-sexual) violent offenses (N = 29), all who have been mandated to forensic clinical care. Drawing on data from a RCT-study among male forensic psychiatric inpatients with cluster B personality disorders from seven forensic hospitals in the Netherlands, the study explored potential differences in ACEs, and its relationship to treatability in the first year of forensic treatment. No significant differences were found in prevalence of childhood abuse and neglect among men convicted for sexual offenses versus those convicted for violent offenses. In our study, ACEs were not predictive of risk relating to treatability at the start of forensic treatment. Our findings suggest that taking into account trauma histories is of equal importance for both offending groups. Implications regarding trauma-informed forensic care are discussed.

Comparison of child abuse history in patients with and without overactive bladder: a case-control study.

This study aimed to compare the occurrence of maltreatment in children with OAB to healthy children referred to Amirkabir hospital, Arak. This study included 100 children with overactive bladder and 100 healthy children without overactive bladder (ages 5-12years) as case and control groups, respectively. Children referred to paediatric clinic at Amirkabir hospital in Arak, were selected as participants. Child abuse domains including psychological/emotional, physical, and neglect were diagnosed using a standardized child abuse questionnaire answered by the children. Data were analyzed by SPSS version χ2 test, t-test, and Pearson's χ2 test. The Prevalence of child maltreatment was significantly greater in the case group (31 cases) than in the control group (12 cases) (P<0.0001). The psychological/emotional domain of child abuse was observed in 19 case group participants and 4 control group participants (P=0.001), and the physical domain was observed in 29 case group participants and 11 control group participants (P<0.0001). Despite this considerable difference, 10 and 8 children in the case and control groups, respectively, scored positively for the neglect domain (P=0.112). Child abuse is considerably more common in children with OAB than in healthy children, especially in the psycho-emotional and physical domains, and it is possible to prevent and treat this condition by notifying parents. Children with OAB should also be subjected to child abuse screening.

Prevalence of non-accidental burns and related factors in children: A systematic review and meta-analysis.

Non-accidental burns (NABs) in children had some adverse effects, such as severe burns, requiring skin grafting, and mortality. Previous studies reported NABs in the form of neglect, suspected abuse, and child abuse. Also, different statistics were estimated for the prevalence of NABs in children. Therefore, the current study aimed to comprehensively review and summarise the literature on the prevalence of NABs in children. Also, factors related to NABs as a secondary aim were considered in this review. Keywords combined using Boolean operators and searches were performed in international electronic databases, such as Scopus, PubMed, and Web of Science. Only studies in English were considered from the earliest to 1 March 2023. The analysis was performed using STATA software version 14. Finally, 29 articles were retrieved for the quantitative analysis. Results found that the prevalence of child abuse, suspected abuse, neglect, 'child abuse or suspect abused', and 'abuse, suspect abused, or neglect' was 6% (ES: 0.06, 95% confidence interval [CI]: 0.05-0.07), 12% (ES: 0.12, 95% CI: 0.09-0.15), 21% (ES: 0.21, 95% CI: 0.07-0.35), 8% (ES: 0.08, 95% CI: 0.07-0.09), and 15% (ES: 0.15, 95% CI: 0.13-0.16) among burns victims, respectively. Also, factors related to NABs are categorised into age and gender, agent and area of burns, and family features. Considering the results of the current study, planning for rapid diagnosis and designing a process to manage NABs in children is necessary.

Repetitive mild traumatic brain injuries in children of abuse

Repetitive mild traumatic brain injuries in children of abuse

Determining the Prevalence of Child Maltreatment Among Young Adults in Saudi Arabia Using ISPCAN Child Abuse Screening Tool.

Background Child maltreatment is an important public health issue, thus determining its prevalence is critical to recognize the extent of the problem and mandate efforts to combat child abuse. We aimed to investigate child maltreatment prevalence among special populations of young adults in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia. Methods We used the retrospective version of the International Society for Prevention of Child Abuse and Neglect (ISPCAN) Child Abuse Screening Tool (ICAST-R). The survey included Saudi students of both genders aged between 18 to 24 years old and attending King Saud bin Abdulaziz University for Health Sciences (KSAU-HS). The questionnaire was provided electronically using Survey Monkey (Momentive Global Inc., San Mateo, CA, USA). Results A total of 713 students completed all sections of the questionnaire.The prevalence of any type of child maltreatment was estimated to be 42%. Physical abuse was the most prevalent (51.1%), followed by emotional abuse (49.9%), lack of protection and safety (38%), and sexual abuse (29.6%). The most common form of physical abuse was being hit or punched at 77.5% followed by 'beaten very hard with an object' at 58.8% while touching was the most common form of sexual abuse at 68.7%, and only 13.7% encountered penetrating form of sexual abuse.In comparison to female victims, male victims were more likely to be physically abused (odds ratio (OR)=1.5; confidence interval (CI)=1.1-2.0). Participants who lived with a single parent were more likely to be victims of a lack of protection and safety than those who lived with both parents (OR=1.9; CI=1.0-3.7). Most participants reported the abuse to occur after the age of nine years, and the perpetrator was the parents in 17.5% of cases. Conclusion Our findings demonstrated a high prevalence of child maltreatment among the young adultpopulation in Saudi Arabia. It is vital to obtain more information on the prevalence and risk factors of child maltreatment in various populations and regions of Saudi Arabia to raise awareness and improve services for the victims of abuse.

Typologies of child maltreatment and peer victimization and the associations with adolescent substance use: A latent class analysis

BackgroundChild maltreatment and peer victimization are pervasive public health problems associated with adolescent substance use. Although child maltreatment has been identified as a risk factor for peer victimization, few studies have investigated their co-occurrence (i.e., polyvictimization). The study objectives were to: examine sex differences in the prevalence of child maltreatment, peer victimization, and substance use; identify polyvictimization patterns; and examine the associations between the identified typologies and adolescent substance use. MethodsData were self-reported from a sample of adolescents aged 14 to 17 years (n = 2910) who participated in the provincially-representative 2014 Ontario Child Health Study. Latent class analysis with distal outcomes was conducted to identify typologies of six types of child maltreatment and five types of peer victimization and examine the associations between the polyvictimization typologies and use of cigarettes/cigars, alcohol, cannabis, and prescription drugs. ResultsFour typologies were identified: Low victimization (76.6 %), Violent home environment (16.0 %), High verbal/social peer victimization (5.3 %), and High polyvictimization (2.1 %). The Violent home environment and High verbal/social peer victimization typologies were associated with increased odds of adolescent substance use (adjusted odds ratio range: 2.06–3.61). The High polyvictimization typology showed increased, but non-significant, odds of substance use. ConclusionsAdolescent-serving health and social services professionals should be aware of polyvictimization patterns and the impact on substance use. For some adolescents, polyvictimization may include exposure to multiple child maltreatment and peer victimization types. Upstream strategies to prevent child maltreatment and peer victimization are needed, which may also contribute to reductions in adolescent substance use.

The Australian Child Maltreatment Study (ACMS), a national survey of the prevalence of child maltreatment and its correlates: methodology.

To describe the aims, design, methodology, and respondent sample representativeness of the Australian Child Maltreatment Study (ACMS). Cross-sectional, retrospective survey; computer-assisted mobile telephone interviewing using random digit dialling (computer-generated), Australia, 9 April - 11 October 2021. People aged 16 years or more. The target sample size was 8500 respondents: 3500 people aged 16-24 years and 1000 respondents each from five further age groups (25-34, 35-44, 45-54, 55-64, 65 years or more). Primary outcomes: Emotional abuse, neglect, physical abuse, sexual abuse, exposure to domestic violence during childhood, assessed with the Juvenile Victimization Questionnaire-R2 Adapted Version (Australian Child Maltreatment Study). selected mental disorder diagnoses (Mini International Neuropsychiatric Interview, MINI), selected physical health conditions, health risk behaviours, health service use. The demographic characteristics of the ACMS sample were similar to those of the Australian population in 2016 with respect to gender, Indigenous status, region and remoteness category of residence, and marital status, but larger proportions of participants were born in Australia, lived in areas of higher socio-economic status, had tertiary qualifications, and had income greater than $1250 per week. Population weights were derived to adjust for these differences. Associations between the number of calls required to recruit participants and maltreatment rates and health outcomes were not statistically significant. The ACMS provides the first reliable estimates of the prevalence of each type of child maltreatment in Australia. These estimates, and those of associated mental health and health risk behaviours reported in this supplement can inform policy and practice initiatives for reducing the prevalence of child maltreatment and its consequences. Our benchmark study also provides baseline data for repeated waves of the ACMS that will assess the effectiveness of these initiatives.

The prevalence of child maltreatment in Australia: findings from a national survey.

To estimate the prevalence in Australia of each type of child maltreatment; to identify gender- and age group-related differences in prevalence. Cross-sectional national survey; mobile telephone interviews using random digit dialling (computer-generated), Australia, 9 April - 11 October 2021. Retrospective self-report data using validated questionnaire (Juvenile Victimisation Questionnaire-R2 Adapted Version (Australian Child Maltreatment Study). People aged 16 years or more. The target sample size was 8500 respondents: 3500 people aged 16-24 years and 1000 respondents each from five further age groups (25-34, 35-44, 45-54, 55-64, 65 years or more). Proportions of respondents reporting physical abuse, sexual abuse, emotional abuse, neglect, and exposure to domestic violence to age 18 years, assessed with the Juvenile Victimization Questionnaire-R2 Adapted Version (Australian Child Maltreatment Study), overall and by gender and age group, and weighted to reflect characteristics of the Australian population aged 16 years or more in 2016. Complete survey data were available for 8503 eligible participants (14% response rate). Physical abuse was reported by 32.0% of respondents (95% confidence interval [CI], 30.7-33.3%), sexual abuse by 28.5% (95% CI, 27.3-29.8%), emotional abuse by 30.9% (95% CI, 29.7-32.2%), neglect by 8.9% (95% CI, 8.1-9.7%), and exposure to domestic violence by 39.6% (95% CI, 38.3-40.9%). The proportions of respondents who reported sexual abuse, emotional abuse, or neglect were each statistically significantly larger for women than men. The reported prevalence of physical abuse by respondents aged 16-24 years was lower than for those aged 25-34 years, and that of sexual abuse was lower than for those aged 35-44 years, suggesting recent declines in the prevalence of these maltreatment types. Child maltreatment is common in Australia, and larger proportions of women than men report having experienced sexual abuse, emotional abuse, and neglect during childhood. As physical and sexual abuse may have declined recently, public health policy and practice may have positive effects, justifying continued monitoring and prevention activities.

Adverse Childhood Experiences and Health Risk Behaviours among the Undergraduate Health Campus Students.

Adverse childhood experiences (ACEs) are linked with health risk behaviours (HRBs). The study aimed to evaluate ACEs in the undergraduate health campus of a public university located in the northeast of Malaysia and determine their association with HRBs. A cross-sectional study was performed by recruiting 973 undergraduate students at the health campus of a public university from December 2019 to June 2021. The World Health Organization (WHO) ACE-International Questionnaire and the Youth Risk Behaviour Surveillance System questionnaire were distributed using simple random sampling according to year of study and the selected batch of students. Descriptive statistics were used for demographic findings and logistic regression analyses were performed to determine the association between ACE and HRB. The 973 participants (male [n = 245] and female [n = 728]) had a median age of 22 years old. The prevalence of child maltreatment among the study population was 30.2%, 29.2%, 28.7%, 9.1% and 6.1% for emotional abuse, emotional neglect, physical abuse, physical neglect and sexual abuse, respectively, among both sexes. The most commonly reported household dysfunctions were parental divorce/separation (5.5%). Community violence was 39.3% among the surveyed participants. The highest prevalence of HRBs among respondents was 54.5% from physical inactivity. The findings confirmed that those exposed to ACEs were at risk of HRBs and that a higher number of ACEs was associated with a higher number of HRBs. ACEs were highly prevalent among participating university students, ranging from 2.6%-39.3%. Hence, child maltreatment is an important public health problem in Malaysia.

Adaptation and validation of the Juvenile Victimization Questionnaire-R2 for a national study of child maltreatment in Australia

BackgroundTo establish national prevalence of child maltreatment, reliable, valid and contextually appropriate measurement is needed. This paper outlines the refinement, adaptation and testing of child maltreatment sections of the Juvenile Victimization Questionnaire (JVQ)-R2 for use in the Australian context. MethodsThree phases were undertaken: 1) Conceptual analysis of the five forms of child maltreatment (physical abuse, sexual abuse, emotional or psychological abuse, neglect, and experience of domestic violence), item mapping and review, item development, and independent expert review; 2) Cognitive testing with members of the general population, and individuals who have experienced maltreatment; and 3) Pilot testing and quantitative psychometric assessment with a random sample of Australians aged 16–65+ years. ResultsThe final measure included a total of 17 child maltreatment screener items, assessing Physical Abuse (2 items), Sexual abuse (5 items (including 2 non-contact items and 3 contact items), Emotional Abuse (3 items), Neglect (3 items), and Experience of Domestic Violence (4 items). Screener items were also included on corporal punishment (1 item), and internet sexual victimization (2 items). The final 17-item revised JVQ had high face and conceptual validity and good internal reliability (α = 0.86 and Ω = 0.87). Test re-test reliability was moderate to high for individual screeners ranging from k = 0.45 to 0.89. ConclusionsResults indicate the Juvenile Victimization Questionnaire-R2: Adapted Version (Australian Child Maltreatment Study) is a suitable instrument for assessing population-wide prevalence of maltreatment. It is congruent with conceptual models of maltreatment and shows good reliability and validity in this Australian sample.

Widening epidemiological data on the prevalence of child maltreatment: Validation of the German ICAST-R in a student sample and national household survey

BackgroundA number of instruments for measuring child maltreatment (CM) prevalence have repeatedly been used across different countries. Although they hold the potential for providing benchmarks to tackle the gap of lacking comparability of CM prevalence across countries, contextual information about the adverse experiences such as perpetrator, chronicity, frequency, or severity are rarely covered. The ISPCAN Child Abuse Screening Tool - Retrospective (ICAST-R) covers these important dimensions. The German version increases the number of available versions to 21 different languages. Spoken by about 120 million people, German is one of the 20 most prevalent languages around the world. Moreover, the ICAST-R is intended to be used with young adults. This study further aims at adding towards the gap of psychometrics in older age groups. MethodsAnalyses are based on both a sample of German students (n = 333) and a nationally representative household survey (n = 2515). The validation process covered six steps: (1) Analyses of missing data on single items, (2) calculation of descriptive statistics to estimate the prevalence CM as well as subjective severity and main perpetrators. (3) Structural validity of the four conceptualized subtypes of CM (neglect, physical abuse, emotional abuse and sexual abuse) was tested using confirmatory factor analyses (CFA). Next (4), equivalence testing by multigroup confirmatory factor analyses (MGCFA) on age groups was conducted within the representative sample; (5) reliability was tested by determining internal consistencies for each subscale via the McDonald's Omega, Kuder-Richardson 20 (KR-20), and Cronbach's alpha. Lastly (6), criterion validity was tested in regression models comparing depressive/anxious symptomatology for single victimization and polyvictimization. ResultsThe German ICAST-R yielded low missing values items in both samples. 16 % of the participants in the national household survey reported neglect, 20.3 % physical abuse, 22.2 % emotional abuse, and 8.6 % sexual abuse. Polyvictimization was prevalent with 20.6 % of subjects reporting >2 types of CM. Students in the pilot-survey reported much higher prevalence estimates than participants in the nationally representative sample. The types of CM subjectively rated as most harmful were emotional abuse and sexual abuse. In both samples, structural validity was similarly confirmed as CFA was reproducing the four conceptualized subtypes of CM with adequate fit (household survey: CFI 0.919, TLI 0.907, RMSEA 0.017, SRMR 0.046). Internal consistency achieved acceptable and comparable values for all three types of coefficients; criterion validity was established with a significant dose-response effect of CM experiences on both anxiety and depressive symptoms/diagnoses. Age dependent analyses on structural validity (MGCFA) and reliability in the household survey revealed potential weaknesses of items. ConclusionThe German version of the ICAST-R both widens the possibility of international CM prevalence comparison and provides novel epidemiological data for Germany on subjective severity of CM and CM perpetrators. Even in the presence of a marked selection bias, the ICAST-R had similarly good psychometric properties in the student and nationally representative household sample. Except for issues with two items, equivalence testing was comparable across age groups.

Addressing the needs of infants and toddlers exposed to maltreatment: Examining the impact of an integrated early head start & children and youth services program

Tragically, our nation is witness to the increasing prevalence of child maltreatment, with the highest prevalence among children under three years of age (Administration for Children and Families, 2020). For every 1,000 children under the age of one in the U.S., more than 25 of them are victims of maltreatment. Even more shocking is the fact that an estimated 1,840 children die from abuse and neglect with almost half (45.4%) of all fatalities from maltreatment occurring in children under one year of age (US Department of Health and Human Services, 2019). In 2002, the Office on Child Abuse and Neglect established the Early Head Start Child Welfare System Initiative as a joint effort between the Office of Head Start and the Children’s Bureau. Funding was provided to 24 grantee sites to increase integrated delivery of services to infants and toddlers who were involved in the child welfare system. Programs emerging from this initiative reflect the gold standard for integrated care among developmental and health programs. However, empirical understanding about the implementation and effectiveness of integrated services for infants and toddlers is lacking (Manz et al., 2019). Addressing this gap, this study examined the association of dosage indicators and child outcomes for an integrated Early Head Start and Children and Youth Services Program (EHS/CYS) program involving a state-led Children and Youth Services Program and Early Head Start center-based program. Program data were analyzed to determine the relative benefits of this EHS/CYS program for infants and toddlers dependent upon their age and duration of enrollment. The objective of this study was to yield information that could improve service delivery and outcomes. Results suggested that longer enrollment duration led to increased attainment of developmental milestones in the areas of cognitive, language, and social emotional development. Future directions for research as well as implications for policy are presented.

Child Maltreatment Education: Utilizing an Escape Room Activity to Engage Learners on a Sensitive Topic.

Child Maltreatment Education: Utilizing an Escape Room Activity to Engage Learners on a Sensitive Topic.

Culturally adapting an evidence-based parenting intervention for the Chilean context: Balancing fidelity, context, and cultural relevance.

The dissemination of evidence-based parent training (PT) interventions remains extremely limited in Latin American countries. This is concerning when considering the high prevalence of child maltreatment associated with punitive parenting practices across countries in the region. Furthermore, efforts to disseminate PT interventions must be conducted by adhering to the core parenting components that have established effectiveness for such interventions, while ensuring contextual and cultural relevance for focus populations. In this manuscript, we describe the cultural adaptation of an evidence-based PT intervention in the context of Chile. This initial phase of adaptation was informed by the theoretical tenets of the Ecological Validity Model of cultural adaptation (Bernal et al., J. Abnorm. Child Psychol., 23, 1995, 67). According to findings from a qualitative thematic analysis conducted with five interventionists in training, therapists perceived that the intervention's core components were relevant to Chilean caregivers who participated in the parenting program. Interventionists also provided specific suggestions to enhance the intervention's contextual and cultural relevance. This investigation illustrates the importance of culturally adapting evidence-based interventions according to comprehensive cultural adaptation frameworks, prior to engaging in large-scale dissemination of adapted interventions in Latin American contexts.

Child abuse and neglect in Brussels during the COVID-19-lockdown

BackgroundIt is likely that the circumstances during the COVID-19-lockdown in Belgium increased the incidence and prevalence of child abuse and neglect (CAN) due to exacerbated risk factors and new COVID-19-related stressors. However, traditional reporters had less contact with children which could lead to undetected cases of CAN. ObjectiveGain insight into the number and profile of CAN reports filed to the Brussels Confidential Center of Child Abuse and Neglect (CCCAN) during the COVID-19-lockdown. Participants and settingA dataset comprising 536 CAN reports from periods before (N = 442) and during the lockdown (N = 94). MethodsCharacteristics about the report, reporter, victim and his/her family, perpetrator(s) and the trajectory with the CCCAN were registered. The number and characteristics of reports during the lockdown were compared to those of reports before the lockdown. ResultsThe number of advisory questions (p = .506, d = .377) and allegations (p = .095, d = 1.206) remained unchanged. During the lockdown, the risk assessment of advisory questions was higher (p = .011, d = .280), they evolved more into social exigency investigations (p < .001, φ = .246) and were referred more often to judicial authorities (p = .010, φ = .163). Allegations were filed more often by the helpline, police and judicial authorities (p < .001, φ = .590) during the lockdown and involved more Dutch-speaking (p = .016, φ = .166) victims. ConclusionsThe number of CAN reports remained the same during the lockdown but their profile changed.