Victims Of Child Abuse Research Articles

Family Protection Department (FPD) in Jordan: The Legal Arm to Protect Women and Children from Violence, Exploitation, and Abuse

Drawing on the facts that were coming from survivors and victims of domestic violence, sexual assaults and child abuse in Jordan and out of the challenges that social and legal personnel used to encounter while dealing with such cases, a holistic approach of practice was a crucial need. The Family Protection Department is a police department that was established to achieve this purpose. FPD today is one of the pioneering bodies in the MENA region that handles cases of gender-based violence, sexual assaults, domestic violence and child abuse in a one-stop service. This encourages people, who describe privacy and honor as deep values that shape their society, to report incidents of abuse since FPD fulfills their desire for privacy and confidentiality. This paper aims to shed light on the most important stages of the history of FPD establishment as experienced by myself as a police officer at that time. It also traces the emergence of police social work from the era of founding the Family Protection Department (FPD) of the Directorate of the Public Security in Jordan till 2019. The paper examines the most significant governmental and none governmental initiatives that have provided support for forensic social workers to reach out to at-risk children, abused children, and Domestic Violence clients. This paper also discusses the role of forensic social work in Jordan in advocating for the social service needs of abused children, those at risk of neglect and abuse, their families as well as of perpetrators.

It's Never One Type: the Co-Occurrence of Child Abuse and Neglect among Children Living in Community Residences in Trinidad.

Child welfare systems in the Caribbean tend not to take multi-type maltreatment into account when assessing and treating victims of child maltreatment. This study aimed to provide evidence of the prevalence of multi-type maltreatment and patterns of co-occurrence of child abuse and neglect among children and adolescents in community residences across Trinidad. One hundred and two children and adolescents completed the Childhood Trauma Questionnaire which captured five abuse and neglect types: emotional abuse, physical abuse, sexual abuse, physical neglect and emotional neglect. The correlation analyses revealed significant positive relationships among the three types of abuse and a moderate positive correlation between the two types of neglect. T-test results indicated that girls were more likely than boys to experience physical abuse, emotional abuse and sexual abuse, however boys also reported high levels of abuse and neglect. The findings suggest that children are likely to face multiple forms of abuse and neglect that may contribute to its alarming severity and chronicity. Children in community residences are a population of particular interest given that residential care may be considered either a risk or a protective factor depending on the quality of care provided. Recommendations for future research and intervention strategies are proposed.

A Preliminary Study of How Child Welfare Interviews are Conducted at Schools: do Differences Exist Based on Grade Level

ABSTRACT Child welfare workers routinely use schools as a location to interview children who are the alleged victims of child abuse and neglect. This study analyzed the survey responses from 109 principals in [Study sate] to determine if differences existed between how high school and non-high school principals have their school staff respond to interview requests, and if differences existed between intake and ongoing case interview requests. Results from the data analysis with Fisher’s exact test showed that some statistically significant differences did exist between how high school and non-high school principals reported that child welfare interviews were facilitated.

A retrospective approach to examining child abuse disclosure

BackgroundOften times, a child’s disclosure is the only forensic evidence available in child abuse cases. Therefore, understanding disclosure patterns of suspected child abuse victims plays a critical role in the forensic investigations of both child physical abuse (CPA) and child sexual abuse (CSA) cases. ObjectiveTo explore adults’ retrospective reports about childhood disclosure of CPA and CSA. Participants and settingCollege students (N = 907) were screened for reported histories of CSA (n = 94) or CPA (n = 109). MethodsThrough an online survey, participants provided anonymous information regarding CSA and CPA experiences along with information about any disclosure events or opportunities that they have encountered since the abuse. ResultsAmong the adults reporting CSA histories, 50 % indicated disclosing the abuse during childhood; 80 % indicated any lifetime disclosure. Among the adults indicating CPA histories, 32 % reportedly disclosed the abuse to someone during childhood with 52 % reporting any lifetime disclosure. For both groups, length of delay until disclosure was bimodal with many individuals reporting immediately and many waiting considerable time. Among adults reporting CSA, a minority (16 %) indicated the abuse came to the attention of authorities, with even fewer CPA cases (8%) reporting authorities were aware of their abuse. Denial and recantation in a formal setting was infrequent regardless of abuse type reported. ConclusionsGiven that participants experiencing CSA and CPA both reported low levels of denial and recantation, forensic investigators and practitioners may benefit from considering consistent interviewing approaches and protocols, regardless of the type of abuse suspected.

Findings of metabolic bone disease in infants with unexplained fractures in contested child abuse investigations: a case series of 75 infants.

Background Infants who present with multiple unexplained fractures (MUF) are often diagnosed as victims of child abuse when parents deny wrongdoing and cannot provide a plausible alternative explanation. Herein we describe evidence of specific and commonly overlooked radiographic abnormalities and risk factors that suggest a medical explanation in such cases. Methods We evaluated such infants in which we reviewed the radiographs for signs of poor bone mineralization. We reviewed medical, pregnancy and family histories. Results Seventy-five of 78 cases showed poor bone mineralization with findings of healing rickets indicating susceptibility to fragility fractures that could result from a wide variety of causes other than child abuse. We found risk factors that could explain the poor bone mineralization: maternal and infant vitamin D deficiency (VDD), decreased fetal bone loading, prematurity and others. Most infants had more than one risk factor indicating that this bone disorder is a multifactorial disorder that we term metabolic bone disease of infancy (MBDI). Maternal and infant VDD were common. When tested, 1,25-dihydroxyvitamin D levels were often elevated, indicating metabolic bone disease. Conclusions Child abuse is sometimes incorrectly diagnosed in infants with MUF. Appreciation of the radiographic signs of MBDI (healing rickets), risk factors for MBDI and appropriate laboratory testing will improve diagnostic accuracy in these cases.

Inpatient Psychiatric Care Outcomes for Adolescents: A Test of Clinical and Psychosocial Moderators

ABSTRACTFinancial pressures have led to a reduced length of stay (LOS) in inpatient psychiatric facilities for adolescents, yet research on the outcomes of short-term programs remains scant. The present study evaluated the outcomes of an adolescent inpatient program by: (1) probing depression, anxiety, and suicidal ideation at admission and discharge and (2) testing whether clinical or psychosocial factors moderate treatment response. Participants included adolescents (n = 777) aged 13–19 years admitted to an inpatient treatment program for acute psychiatric concerns. Clinical interviews were administered to probe mental disorders and past suicidal thoughts and behaviors (STBs), and self-report measures assessed symptom severity, child abuse, and peer victimization (i.e., bullying). Results showed a significant decrease in depression, anxiety, and suicidal ideation from admission to discharge. Comorbidity, past month NSSI, and lifetime suicide attempts emerged as moderators of treatment response, and peer victimization predicted symptom severity at discharge. Although findings suggest an overall improvement, participants with more severe clinical presentations (e.g., comorbidity, past month NSSI, lifetime suicide attempts, and more severe bullying) reported greater symptom severity at admission and discharge, suggesting that these patients may benefit from longer inpatient stays to achieve further symptom reduction. Although this may incur greater costs in the short-term, it also may prevent unintended economic and psychosocial consequences in the long-term.

국제협약에 기반 한 오스트리아의 아동학대 피해자 보호에 관한 고찰

국제협약에 기반 한 오스트리아의 아동학대 피해자 보호에 관한 고찰

Cardiac reactions to emotional words in adolescents and young adults with PTSD after child abuse.

Post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) is associated with alterations in cardiac reactivity to threat cues. Meta-analyses have summarized that adults with PTSD have increased heart rates in response to trauma-related stimuli. However, the opposite effect (i.e., cardiac hyporeactivity) has recently been reported in subgroups of PTSD patients. In children and adolescents with PTSD, reports of cardiac alterations are rare and ambiguous. So far, most studies in adolescents and young adults are restricted to victims of accidents, even though PTSD is highly prevalent in victims of child maltreatment. The present study aimed at investigating cardiac reactions in adolescents and young adults with PTSD after child abuse. Cardiac responses to standardized emotional words were studied in 39 adolescent and young adult PTSD patients after childhood sexual and/or physical abuse as compared to 39 healthy control subjects (age range: 15-20years). The experimental paradigm consisted of a passive reading task with neutral, positive, physically threatening, and socially threatening (swear) words. Results showed that cardiac reactions to negative stimuli, particularly physically threatening stimuli, were less pronounced in PTSD patients than in controls. Moreover, cardiac reactions in response to socially threatening words were less variable in the PTSD group. No differences between and within groups were present in reaction to neutral or positive stimuli. Findings suggest that a physiologically blunted subtype of PTSD may already manifest during adolescence and young adulthood. Moreover, the results of the present study emphasize the relevance of individual trauma history for physiological reactions.

The role of NGOs on health and peace development through implementing support programs for victims of child abuse

PurposeThe reduction of the violence and child abuse requires the cooperation of national and international health-related organizations. The purpose of this paper is to investigate the role of NGOs in health and peace development through administrating supportive programs for child abuse and violence victims.Design/methodology/approachThe present research was a mixed method research, and the type of research was a descriptive-analytic study. To collect data, library and field methods were used. The research sample included 137 staff members of the NGOs supporting children in Tehran. Data analysis was performed using SPSS software.FindingsAccording to authorities and members of the NGOs supporting children, networking and affective factors played a significant role in the development of health and peace (P<0.01). This was feasible by controlling the factors affecting violence and child abuse.Practical implicationsGiven the fact that NGOs are contributing to the development and establishment of peace through effective participation and networking, trying to support the victims of child abuse and violence, the need for more attention from governments is recommended in order to support these organizations, especially legislative and financial support is needed to expand the activities of such organizations.Originality/valueThis paper is original in its method, topic and findings. The first is mixed method research, which has studied the role of networking of NGOs for peace development through implementing support programs for victims of child abuse and violence.

Impact of Project ECHO on Community ED Providers' Perceptions of Child Abuse Knowledge and Access to Subspecialists for Child Abuse and Neglect

Problem Identification: Victims of child abuse and/or neglect (CAN) are frequently cared for in emergency departments (EDs) where providers must recognize and report injuries suggestive of CAN to prevent additional injury or death. Almost 90% of pediatric visits occur in community EDs with limited access to subspecialty CAN consultation.1 Abusive injuries are missed more frequently in these EDs compared to pediatric EDs.2,3 Efforts to improve CAN care in EDs have been limited to screening instruments and sporadic educational interventions.

Adjunctive infliximab not effective for symptom reduction in bipolar depression

Three infusions of the monoclonal antibody infliximab did not reduce depressive symptoms relative to placebo in a 12‐week trial of the drug as adjunctive treatment for adults with bipolar I or II depression and inflammatory conditions. A subgroup of patients who had been victims of childhood abuse experienced greater reductions in depressive symptoms with infliximab, however. Study results were published online May 8 in JAMA Psychiatry.

Longitudinal Adaptive Pattern Analysis of Child Abuse Victims During Childhood and Adolescence.

Adopting a contextual, systematic perspective, the present study aimed to understand whether an individual's adverse circumstances in one domain have a continuous effect on his or her maladaptation in another domain. The Korean Children and Youth Panel Survey data set, comprising a stratified sample of 1,932 students recruited from 95 schools from 16 cities in Korea, was used for pattern identification, latent class analysis, and latent transition analysis. Consistent with Masten's resilience model, latent class analysis was used to identify the following four types of patterns: resilient, maladaptive, vulnerable, and competent-unchallenged. These four patterns were clearly identified at Time 1, Time 2, and Time 3. Latent transition analysis was used to identify the continuity and change patterns in the four groups across the developmental pathology. The transition probabilities from Time 1 to Time 2 were relatively unstable, with many variations observed among the latent classes; however, the transition probabilities from Time 2 to Time 3 remained relatively stable. An in-depth discussion of the findings and their implications is provided.

Child Sexual Abuse Victimization Prevention Programs in Preschool and Kindergarten: Implications for Practice

ABSTRACTWith the alarming rates of child sexual abuse in the United States, there have been several attempts to develop and implement child abuse victimization programs in elementary schools across the country. Many programs have targeted older school-age children, but research shows that these programs can be effective for children of preschool and kindergarten age. This paper will review the literature that provides the rationale behind offering these types programs to the youngest of school-children, what these programs can offer, and describe specific programs that have been validated for preschool and kindergarten-aged children, using the best practice guidelines in the field of early childhood education. Recommendations for future programs and research needs are also offered.

Pengetahuan dan sikap petugas kesehatan di pelayanan kesehatan primer dalam tata laksana kekerasan terhadap anak

Child abuse is a serious problem. Child abuse victims should get standarized management unless so it will affect the quality of life of the children in the future. Health services for child abuse victim are carried out through basic level services, namely the “puskesmas”. This study aims to determine the knowledge, attitudes, and behavior of health workers in primary health care on management of child abuse victims. The descriptive cross sectional study by using a questionnaires to health workers who work in Puskesmas Ramah Anak in the Bandung City. The data of gender, profession, length of time working at the Puskesmas Ramah Anak, recent education, experience in training management of violence against children, level of knowledge, attitudes, and behavior in the management of child sexual abuse. The questionnaire was distributed to 69 respondents and only 56 respondents entered the inclusion criteria. All of respondents have good knowledge 55.0% have a positive attitude and 54.0% ever done management of child sexual abuse. Health workers at the puskesmas in Bandung City generally have good knowledge of child sexual abuse management and agreeing that the management of child abuse must be carried out properly and also managed child sexual abuse in accordance with the guidelines provided.

History of abuse and neglect and their associations with mental health in rescued child labourers in Nepal.

Little is known about rates of childhood maltreatment in low-income countries, particularly among marginalised sectors of society. Economic hardships mean that in such countries, many children and young people are exploited in the labour force and/or are trafficked, placing them at greater risk for being exposed to other forms of maltreatment. Cultural norms endorsing the use of physical and emotional acts to discipline children further exacerbate this risk. Here, we assessed the rates of childhood victimisation experiences and associated mental health problems in Nepalese youth rescued from illegal child labour including trafficking. One hundred and three young people aged 12-18 years living in out-of-home care institutions and rescued from child labour/trafficking completed translated versions of selected modules from the Juvenile Victimisation Questionnaire, the Youth Inventory and the Strength and Difficulties Questionnaire. Care-home employees responsible for looking after the young people completed the Adolescent Symptom Inventory and the Strength and Difficulties Questionnaire. Analysis described maltreatment frequencies and compared individuals who had and had not experienced any form of maltreatment on the presence/absence of psychiatric diagnoses. Seventy-two percent of participants experienced some form of maltreatment in their lifetime. Rates for each maltreatment type were 46.6% for physical abuse, 40.77% for emotional abuse, 27.2% for sexual abuse and 33% for neglect. Symptoms indicative of anxiety disorders and trauma were commonly reported especially in victims of childhood maltreatment. Our estimates of physical abuse in this at-risk juvenile sample were commensurate to those reported in general-population youth samples in Nepal, but sexual and emotional abuse rates were somewhat lower. The potential presence of anxiety and trauma in this sample that may result from maltreatment requires replication, but underscores an urgent need for routine mental health screening in rescued child labourers during rehabilitation efforts.

Child Abuse Victimization, Depression, and Substance Use Among Homeless Women: Application of General Strain Theory.

The main purpose of this study was to investigate the association between child abuse and substance use among homeless women based on a framework of General Strain Theory, which emphasizes the strong relationship between deviant behaviors and personally experienced strain. In this study, as the strain associated with substance use, child abuse experience in the past was assessed. This research tested three hypotheses about (a) the association between physical and sexual abuse during childhood and substance use (heavy drinking, marijuana use, and crack cocaine use), (b) the mediating effect of depressive symptoms, and (c) the moderating effect of positive social supports on the relationship between abuse during childhood and substance use with a survey and interview data of a randomly selected sample of 445 homeless women in a temporary shelter setting in Los Angeles County between June 2007 and March 2008. Although the results indicated that abuse during childhood was not significantly associated with any form of substance use, the results of multivariate analyses indicated that depressive symptoms fully mediated the four relationships (p < .01; physical abuse and heavy drinking, physical abuse and crack cocaine use, sexual abuse and heavy drinking, and sexual abuse and crack cocaine use). The results of this study also indicated that positive social supports significantly moderate the effect of physical (p < .01) and sexual (p < .05) abuse experience on heavy drinking, which implies that positive social supports would be significant to reduce substance use among homeless women who had a history of physical and sexual abuse during childhood.

Child abuse victimization among transgender and gender nonconforming people: A systematic review.

Conduct a systematic review of abuse of transgender and gender nonconforming (TGNC) people in childhood. Scopus, PubMed, PsychInfo databases were searched. Articles included in final analysis were those with respondents who reported childhood abuse and were either transgender adults or described gender nonconforming traits in childhood. Of 186 articles originally identified, 14 are included in the final review. Research on TGNC individuals and child abuse varied in how populations were identified and methodology used. Those who are transgender and those who display gender nonconforming traits in childhood are at risk for child abuse and sequelae. Research should use the two-step methodology of identifying transgender people. Recalled Childhood Gender Identity Scale should be used. Providers should screen for child abuse.

Effectiveness of Forgiveness Skill on Worry and Hopelessness in Women Victims of Sexual Abuse in Childhood

Sexual abuse is a major health problem and trauma if encountered in childhood. This study was conducted about the Effectiveness, Forgiveness skill on worry and hopelessness in Women Victims of sexual abuse in childhood.&#x0D; This is a semi-experimental study with pretest-posttest as well as control and test groups. 30 depressed women who reported a sexual abuse by relative and referred to several psychological clinics in Tehran in 2017 were studied. Studied sample consisted of 30 women who were selected randomly (how the author has used random sampling) (the author should have used purposive sampling rather than random) and signed into two 15-member experimental and control groups. Sample members of test group were under intervention individually within 12 sessions with forgiveness approach and control group members were remained in waiting list. Both of groups filled out worry and hopelessness scale in baseline and after intervention. The data were analyzed using covariance analysis through IBM SPSS 22.0 software.&#x0D; Results obtained from study indicate difference between worry and hopelessness level of women victims of sexual abuse in control and experimental groups after forgiveness training.&#x0D; Forgiveness skill is effective in reducing worry and hopelessness in women victims of sexual abuse in childhood.

The mediating role of posttraumatic stress reactions in the relationship between child abuse and physical health complaints in adolescence and young adulthood

ABSTRACT Background: Child abuse is associated with physical health problems in adolescence and adulthood, but the mechanisms involved are unclear. A possible mediating effect of posttraumatic stress reactions (PTSR) linking child abuse with later physical health complaints has not been fully investigated. Objective: The current study investigated whether PTSR could be a potential mediator in the relationship between child abuse and physical health complaints in adolescents and young adults. If so, we also investigated whether this was the case for different child abuse types alone or in combination. Method: The study sample comprised 506 adolescents and young adult victims of child abuse and 504 unexposed matched controls aged 16–33 from a community sample. We measured child abuse retrospectively and current PTSR at wave 1 (2013), and current physical health complaints at wave 2 (2014/15). We tested a model of PTSR as a possible mediator between child abuse and physical health complaints and conducted causal mediation analysis to estimate direct and indirect pathways. Each child abuse type was studied in isolation and in combination with other abuse types. Results: PTSR had a notable, significant mediating effect on the relationship between child abuse and physical health complaints in our overall model (average causal mediation effect; ACME = 0.14, p < 0.001), accounting for 85% of the total effect. The mediated pathway was also significant in analyses of the different child abuse types. The mediating effect of PTSR was most prominent in individuals reporting exposure to more than one child abuse type. Conclusions: The current study indicates that PTSR may be an important mediator in the relationship between child abuse and physical health complaints. Health professionals should be aware of the important role that PTSR may have in maintaining or exacerbating physical health problems in child abuse victims. However, a reverse model could not be tested in this study and the results need confirmation in future prospective studies.

Judicial Responses to Violations of the Emotional, Physical, Psychological and Sexual Integrity of the Child

This article examines the use of limitation laws in the context of civil law claims under English law and Scots law brought by adult claimants in relation to allegations of historical abuse in childhood. Using case law as a barometer of judicial attitudes towards such claimants and, by extension, towards the child victims of abuse themselves, differences in judicial approach between the two jurisdictions are critically assessed, entailing some weighing and evaluation of the argumentative coherence and persuasive force of the judicial decision-making in question. Key aspects of the discussion are framed in terms of recurrent issues that have arisen in relevant case law. The overall aim is to inform a wider debate about the success or failure of civil law mechanisms of redress in rendering justice to those whose right to emotional, physical, psychological or sexual integrity has been violated in childhood.