BACKGROUND: Building an effective casework system for child maltreatment is a global issue. We estimated the effect of household dysfunction (i.e., interparental violence, caregiver mental health problems, and caregiver substance abuse) on child maltreatment to understand how to advance the current framework of child welfare. METHODS: The sample comprised 759 children (1- to 17-year-old; mean age was 10.6; 404 boys and 355 girls) placed in temporary custody units (one of the strongest intervention of the Japanese child protection system). Caseworkers from 180 units across 43 prefectures completed questionnaires on children and their family and were asked whether a child maltreatment report had been made after cancelation of custody in a 15-month follow-up period. The relations of household dysfunction and maltreatment reports were assessed using the Cox proportional hazard model. RESULTS: About half (48.4%) of the children had been placed in the unit because of maltreatment, and 88.3% had a history of victimization. Seventy-six cases had maltreatment reports after cancelation. We entered household dysfunction variables individually into the model, and each had a significant relationship with maltreatment reports (hazard ratios for interparental violence, caregiver mental health problem, and substance abuse were 1.69, 1.69, and 2.19, respectively) after covariate adjustment. When treating these three variables as cumulative risk score model of household dysfunction, the hazard ratio increased with increasing number of score (1.96 for score two; 2.35 for score three; score 0 as reference). CONCLUSIONS Greater household dysfunction score is a risk of maltreatment after intensive intervention. It is imperative to construct systems facilitating cooperation between child and adult service sectors and to deliver seamless services to children and families. Our findings provide child protect services with risk-stratified interventions for children at victimization risk and promote adult-focused services to be proactive in prevention or intervention for adults with perpetration risk.
Adolescent ; Caregivers ; psychology ; Child ; Child Abuse ; psychology ; statistics & numerical data ; Child Protective Services ; statistics & numerical data ; Child, Preschool ; Domestic Violence ; psychology ; statistics & numerical data ; Family Characteristics ; Female ; Humans ; Incidence ; Infant ; Japan ; epidemiology ; Longitudinal Studies ; Male ; Mental Disorders ; epidemiology ; psychology ; Risk Factors ; Substance-Related Disorders ; epidemiology ; etiology

INTRODUCTION: There is an increasing trend of physical child abuse cases reported in Singapore. Children presenting to the Emergency Department with injuries require a high index of suspicion for clinicians to distinguish those that are abusive in nature. MATERIALS AND METHODS: A retrospective study of children with diagnosis of NAI presenting to KK Women's and Children's Hospital (KKH) from June 2011 to May 2016 was conducted. RESULTS: There were 1917 cases reported from 1730 subjects, of  which: 8.8% of subjects had repeat visits; 55.2% of cases were male; and mean age was 7.69 years. Racial demographics were: Chinese 45.5%, Malay 33.4%, Indian 15.4% and Others 5.9%. The most frequent injuries sustained were head and neck (50.8%), limbs (32.2%), and chest (5.7%). Of the type of injuries, 55% had contusions, 21% had cane marks, 16% had lacerations, 4.4% had burn marks and 1% sustained fractures. Males were more likely to be caned ( <0.001); 54.9% of cases were admitted and 38.9% were discharged. Cases that presented without a parent ( <0.001), were known to Child Protective Service ( <0.001), or had a history of  parental substance abuse ( = 0.038), mental illness in caregiver ( = 0.021), or domestic violence ( <0.001) were more likely to require admission. CONCLUSION Analysing these factors provide a better understanding of  the presentation of  NAI cases, including 'red flags' and vulnerable groups who should have better protection.
Age Factors ; Child ; Child Abuse ; prevention & control ; statistics & numerical data ; Child, Preschool ; Cohort Studies ; Emergency Service, Hospital ; statistics & numerical data ; Ethnic Groups ; statistics & numerical data ; Female ; Hospitalization ; statistics & numerical data ; Humans ; Injury Severity Score ; Male ; Mandatory Reporting ; Needs Assessment ; Physical Abuse ; prevention & control ; statistics & numerical data ; Prevalence ; Retrospective Studies ; Risk Assessment ; Sex Factors ; Singapore ; Vulnerable Populations ; statistics & numerical data ; Wounds and Injuries ; diagnosis ; epidemiology

Objective: To evaluate the prospective association between childhood abuse experiences and depressive symptoms in adolescence. Methods: Students in grade 3 and 4 from three primary schools were selected, with informed consent, through convenience cluster sampling in Bengbu, Anhui province in May 2013. The students' body height, weight were assessed. Childhood abuse experiences including emotional, physical or sexual abuses, as well as depressive symptoms were reported by children themselves. Data on parental educational background and household economic status were collected through parent questionnaire. A follow up was conducted 4 years later after baseline survey. Depressive symptoms were evaluated by using Children's Depression Inventory at baseline survey, and by using Mood and Feeling Questionnaire at follow-up. Logistic regression model was used to analyze the relationship between childhood abuse experiences and depressive symptoms in adolescence. Results: A total of 1 172 students were included in baseline survey, and a follow-up was conducted for 87.1% of them (n=1 021). Among 1 126 students with complete information on childhood abuse experiences at baseline survey, the reported rates of physical, emotional and sexual abuses were 12.8% (144/1 126), 11.1% (125/1 126) and 10.9% (123/1 126), respectively. The prevalence of depressive symptoms at baseline survey and follow-up was 7.0% (82/1 172) and 12.3% (126/1 021), respectively. After adjusted for baseline depressive symptoms, age at follow-up, sex, the only-child in family, household economic status, divorce of parents and BMI, childhood emotional and physical abuse experiences were significant risk factors for depressive symptoms in mid-adolescence, with the ORs were 1.86 (95%CI: 1.03-3.36, P=0.039) and 2.37 (95%CI: 1.39-4.03, P=0.001), respectively. Conclusion: Childhood physical and emotional abuse might increase the risk of depressive symptoms in adolescence.
Adolescent ; Child ; Child Abuse/statistics & numerical data* ; China/epidemiology* ; Depression/epidemiology* ; Female ; Humans ; Male ; Prospective Studies ; Students/statistics & numerical data* ; Surveys and Questionnaires

INTRODUCTIONThis study aimed to describe the demographic, social, developmental and behavioural profile of children hospitalised for alleged child maltreatment syndrome (CMS).

METHODSThis study was a retrospective review of the consecutive inpatient records of children (0-16 years) admitted to the National University Hospital, Singapore, for alleged CMS over a three-year period. Descriptive data on the demographic characteristics, alleged maltreatment, medical and developmental histories, and family background of these children were collected and analysed. Chi-square statistics were used to test whether family factors were associated with the type of maltreatment and the presence of developmental disorders.

RESULTSA total of 89 children, who accounted for 90 admission cases, were studied. Physical abuse (70.0%) was the most common, followed by neglect (11.1%) and sexual abuse (7.8%). Child protection services had already been involved in 29.2% of the cases prior to the child's admission. Children who were victims of abuse were more likely to come from homes with a prior history of domestic violence (p = 0.028). Financial difficulty was found to be a risk factor for neglect (p = 0.005). Among the 89 children, 15.7% were found to have developmental disorders and 10.1% had mental health diagnoses. Children who had developmental disorders were more likely to have a parent with a mental health disorder (p = 0.002).

CONCLUSIONA sizeable proportion of the children admitted for alleged CMS had developmental or behavioural disorders. Clinicians have a role in ensuring that these children have appropriate follow-up plans. Children from high-risk families should be screened for maltreatment.

Adolescent ; Child ; Child Abuse ; statistics & numerical data ; Child, Abandoned ; statistics & numerical data ; Child, Institutionalized ; statistics & numerical data ; Child, Orphaned ; statistics & numerical data ; Child, Preschool ; Developmental Disabilities ; epidemiology ; etiology ; Female ; Follow-Up Studies ; Humans ; Infant ; Infant, Newborn ; Inpatients ; statistics & numerical data ; Male ; Poverty ; Prevalence ; Retrospective Studies ; Risk Factors ; Singapore ; epidemiology

OBJECTIVETo understand the neglect situation of elementary and high school students aged 6-17 years in western rural areas of China.

METHODSUsing multi-stage stratified cluster sampling method, 4 131 students were recruited from 26 rural elementary and high schools of 7 districts in Shanxi province and Chongqing from September 2012 to April 2013. The investigation was conducted based on 'The Development of Neglect Evaluation Norms and Influence Factors for Primary and Middle School Students' in rural areas of China. SAS 9.21 software was used for analyzing neglect rate and neglect degree for groups of age, sex and neglect types (including neglect of physical, emotional, medical, educational, safety and social).

RESULTSThe total neglect rate and degree were 55.50% (1 943/3 501) and 49.96 ± 9.67; the neglect rates for males and females were 56.78% (1 018/1 793) and 54.16% (925/1 708) (P = 0.119); the neglect degrees were 50.08 ± 9.31 and 49.83 ± 10.02 (P = 0.479), respectively. The girls' medical neglect rate (18.25%, 348/1 907) was significantly higher than that in boys (14.72%, 294/1 997) (P < 0.01); the boys' neglect degrees of physical, educational and social neglect (50.05 ± 10.46, 49.99 ± 10.81, 57.63 ± 14.63) were significantly higher than that in girls (49.34 ± 10.70, 49.07 ± 11.30, 56.37 ± 14.80) (P < 0.05). The total neglect rates of 6-8, 9-11, 12-14 and 15-17 groups were 44.48% (310/697), 60.40% (511/846), 60.89% (601/987) and 53.66% (521/971) (P < 0.01), and the total neglect degrees among these groups were 46.89 ± 8.57, 51.88 ± 9.25, 51.88 ± 9.25 and 51.72 ± 8.89 (P < 0.01), respectively. Except the neglect rates of medical and social neglect, significant differences were found in other three neglect rates and neglect degrees. The rates of social, emotional and safety neglect in 9-11 group were higher than that in other groups (28.39% (264/930), 26.41% (239/905), 20.35% (187/919)). The 12-14 group has the highest educational neglect rate(29.41%, 317/1 078). While the physical and emotional neglect degrees in 12-14 and 15-17 group were higher than that in other groups(12-14 group: 51.59 ± 10.02, 53.43 ± 12.02, 15-17 group: 51.96 ± 9.80, 52.61 ± 11.59). The social, safety, educational and medical neglect degrees were the highest in 6-8, 9-11, 12-14 and 15-17 group (60.91 ± 13.13, 48.29 ± 11.34, 52.43 ± 10.55, 51.15 ± 17.25), respectively. The neglect rates and neglect degrees were significantly higher in minorities(68.88% (374/543) and 52.91 ± 9.14) than those in Han population (53.04% (1 569/2 958), 49.44 ± 9.67)(P < 0.01 in both indexes); and the neglect rates and neglect degrees were significantly higher in children with siblings group (58.20% (1 504/2 584), 50.58 ± 9.54) than those the in one-child group (47.87% (439/917), 48.27 ± 9.80) (P < 0.01 in both indexes); and the neglect rates and neglect degrees were significantly higher in left-hand students (61.65% (1 101/1 786), 51.41 ± 9.51) than those in living-with-parents students(49.10% (842/1 715), 48.56 ± 9.61) (P < 0.01 in both indexes).

CONCLUSIONThe children neglect situation is serious in western rural areas, close attention from families, schools and the society is in urgent need.

Adolescent ; Child ; Child Abuse ; ethnology ; statistics & numerical data ; China ; epidemiology ; ethnology ; Female ; Humans ; Male ; Minority Groups ; Parents ; Risk Factors ; Rural Population ; Safety ; Sex Factors ; Socioeconomic Factors ; Students

BACKGROUND: Fractures as a result of non-accidental injuries (NAI) are not uncommon among children. The purpose of our study was to describe the incidence, demographic characteristics, and associated risk factors in patients with NAI in a multiethnic Asian cohort. METHODS: A retrospective record review of patients admitted to our hospital between September 2007 and 2009 with the diagnosis of NAI was conducted. RESULTS: A total of 978 children were reported with suspicion of NAI. Among them, 570 patients (58.28%) were diagnosed with NAI. Fractures were observed in 35 children (6.14%). NAI fractures were highest among female infants (73.3%). The biological father was the most common known perpetrator of NAI (n = 155, 29.0%). The most common perpetrator sadly remained unknown (n = 14, 40%). All NAI fractures were closed (n = 35, 6.14%), and the most commonly affected bone was the humeral shaft (n = 10, 28.57%) with an oblique configuration. Age < 1 year and parental divorce were significant risk factors associated with these fractures. CONCLUSIONS: The skeletal injury pattern and risk factors highlighted in our study will help treating physicians identify patients susceptible to NAI, as many of these patients are young and vulnerable. Protective measures can be initiated early by recognizing these injuries and preventing further physical and psychological harm to the child.
Adolescent ; Child ; Child Abuse/*statistics & numerical data ; Child, Preschool ; Female ; Fractures, Bone/*epidemiology ; Humans ; Humeral Fractures/epidemiology ; Infant ; Male ; Retrospective Studies ; Risk Factors ; Singapore/epidemiology

PURPOSE: The purpose of this study is to test a model linking infant health problem, mother's depression and marital relationship to infant abuse. METHODS: This study employed a cross-sectional survey design. Data were collected from 2009 Data of Index Studies for Korean Children and Adolescents Development. Survey data from 1,060 infants and their mothers (including infant health status and infant physical illness scale, depression scale, marital relationship scale, and child abuse scale) were used to test the model. The model was tested using path analysis techniques within structural equation modeling. RESULTS: The model fit indices suggested that the original hypothesized model adequately fit the data (chi2 = .33, df = 5, p = .84, Tucker-Lewis Index = 1.04, Comparative Fit Index = 1.00, Root Mean Square Error of Approximation = .00). Infant health problem and mother's depression had a negative direct effect on marital relationship, which in turn had a direct negative effect on infant abuse. Infant health problems directly affected infant abuse and also influenced infant abuse indirectly through the marital relationship. Mother's depression had significant direct effects on infant abuse and also influenced infant abuse indirectly through the marital relationship. CONCLUSION: The findings from this study demonstrate the fundamental importance of infant health as linked to the mother's mental health, and marital relationship and increasing the quality of marital relationship may be the key to infant abuse prevention.
Adult ; Child Abuse/*psychology/statistics & numerical data ; Cross-Sectional Studies ; Depressive Disorder/epidemiology/*psychology ; Female ; *Health Status ; Humans ; Infant ; Infant Welfare/*psychology/statistics & numerical data ; Marriage/*psychology/statistics & numerical data ; Middle Aged ; Models, Psychological ; Mothers/*psychology ; Questionnaires ; Republic of Korea/epidemiology

OBJECTIVETo develop the national neglect norms for urban primary school students in China.

METHODSAccording to multi-stage stratified cluster sampling principle, 24 cities of 13 provinces (municipalities) in China were selected during December 1 to 31, 2008. A total of 1491 students in grade 1 - 3 and 2236 students in grade 4 - 6 were selected. Questionnaire was designed by authors and the final norms were determined through several statistical analysis methods, such as item analysis method, factor analysis method, reliability analysis method. The reliability analysis and validity analysis were used to test the stability and reliability of the norms. The evaluation criteria of the scale was determined by the percentile method, then the initial development of the norm was completed.

RESULTSThe two questionnaires of grade 1 - 3 and grade 4 - 6 students consisted of 55 and 57 items, respectively, whose item loadings were ranged from 0.301 to 0.687 and 0.321 to 0.730, which met the statistical requirements. For grade 1 - 3 students, the scale's total Cronbach α coefficients was 0.914, the total split-half reliability coefficients was 0.896, the Cronbach α coefficients of four level was above 0.737 except medical and social neglect, split-half reliability was ranged from 0.461 to 0.757; for grade 4-6 students, the scale's total Cronbach α coefficients was 0.916, split-half reliability was 0.883, except social neglect, the Cronbach α coefficients of other level was ranged 0.457 to 0.856, split-half reliability was ranged from 0.500 to 0.798. The total neglect cut-off score of the two scales grade 1-3 and 4-6 were 125 and 155, respectively.

CONCLUSIONThe structure of two norms was reasonable. The scales have good stability and reliability.

Child ; Child Abuse ; prevention & control ; statistics & numerical data ; China ; epidemiology ; Female ; Humans ; Male ; Reproducibility of Results ; Schools ; Students ; Surveys and Questionnaires

OBJECTIVES: This study measures nursing students' ability to recognize child abuse and identifies the factors related to varying levels of recognition. METHODS: In this cross-sectional study, data were collected from 370 third and fourth year nursing students using a self-reported questionnaire during November 15-30, 2011. The measuring tool for child abuse recognition used in the study was developed by Ozasa (2011) and is composed of 44 items including physical, mental, and sexual abuse, and neglect. For data analysis, descriptive statistics, two sample t-tests, and regression analysis were evaluated with the SPSS/PC ver20.0 program. RESULTS: Nursing students were concerned about child abuse(85.4%), but knew little about related laws and regulations(14.3%), and they had almost no formal education or training regarding how to recognize child abuse. They only 1.6% reported child abuse even if they encountered such incidents; however, they correctly recognized even infrequent incidents of child abuse. Recognition of sexual abuse ranked highest, while recognition of neglect ranked lowest. Those with higher levels of concern over child abuse showed higher recognition scores. Regression analysis revealed that physical abuse, mental abuse, and neglect had different related factors, while sexual abuse had none. CONCLUSION: Education and training on the subject of child abuse is strongly recommended in nursing curriculums so that nurses will be able to appropriately respond to and report suspected child abuse.
Child ; Child Abuse ; Cross-Sectional Studies ; Curriculum ; Humans ; Jurisprudence ; Sex Offenses ; Statistics as Topic ; Students, Nursing ; Surveys and Questionnaires

OBJECTIVETo understand the children neglect situation of left-behind children (children who do not grow up with their parents) and non-left-behind children in China's western rural and its influencing factors.

METHODSScales and evaluation methods in the "Chinese rural child neglected evaluation model" were used in this study. The investigation was conducted by using multistage stratified cluster sampling method; three countries were sampled randomly in Shanxi and Chongqing in November 2010, respectively. And, in every county, children from rural area aged from zero to six were randomly selected, with neglect rate and degree to describe their neglected status, using logistic regression analysis to analyze factors affecting the neglect rate.

RESULTSAmong 1568 subjects (859 left-behind and 709 living-with-parents), the total neglect rates were 29.78% (467/1568), and the total neglect degrees were 48.51 ± 6.49; the neglect rates for left-behind ones and living-with parents ones were 34.34% (295/859) and 24.26% (172/709) (P < 0.05); the neglect degree were 49.59 ± 6.54 and 47.19 ± 6.18 (P < 0.05). The neglect degree among left-behind ones and living-with parents ones between 0 to 2 years old were 48.59 ± 6.33 and 45.78 ± 5.94 (P < 0.05); in 3 to 6 years old group, which were 50.43 ± 6.60 and 48.25 ± 6.16(P < 0.05). The degrees in boy's group of these two kinds of children were 49.83 ± 6.67, 47.36 ± 6.28(P < 0.05) and girl's were 49.32 ± 6.38, 47.01 ± 6.08 (P < 0.05). On the other side, the neglect rate of left-behind and non-left-behind children between 0 to 2 years old were 39.33% (153/389) and 18.54% (56/302) (P < 0.05). The rates of boy's group were 34.91% (162/464) and 25.13% (94/374) (P < 0.05), and girl's were 33.67% (133/395) and 23.28% (78/335) (P < 0.05). Results showed that if the left-behind child's father was with lower education background, and the child and his mother feel stranger to each other, which led to the conclusion there was more chance for them to be neglected (OR values were 1.29 and 1.55, P < 0.05). If the non-neglected child's father was farmer or migrant worker and the relationship between the mother and father was poor, then there was more chance for them to be neglected (OR values were 0.85 and 1.92, P < 0.05).

CONCLUSIONThe situation of children neglect in the western rural regions in China is serious. Both the neglect rate and degree among left-behind children are higher than those living-with-parents children. The influencing factors of neglect rate are different in the two groups.

Child ; Child Abuse ; prevention & control ; statistics & numerical data ; Child, Preschool ; China ; epidemiology ; Cross-Sectional Studies ; Family ; Female ; Humans ; Infant ; Male ; Parents ; Rural Population ; Surveys and Questionnaires ; Transients and Migrants