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Child welfare service (CWS) agencies are responding to the critique that child welfare is an unacceptably adverse response to basic problems of poverty by developing innovative policies and strategies to help clients address concrete needs that promote successful parenting. Washinton State now requires that child welfare workers provide concrete goods to children, youth, parents, guardians, and suitable persons who meet certain conditions. Other states do not require such actions but are increasingly enabling their usage – even during the first days after a child abuse report while investigations are ongoing. This approach is consistent with public service history which included psychosocial and concrete services but requires a new commitment to poverty aware services. The effort seems promising for reducing child welfare inequities for poor families and offering child welfare workers additional tools to use to engage families in collaborative progress. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objective: This study aimed to examine the relationship between maltreatment and psychological well-being among preschool children and explore parent–child interaction's moderating role on this association. Methods: This study employed a cross-sectional design and multistage stratified cluster random sampling method. Between December 2022 and January 2023, 180 kindergartens in the Hainan province—encompassing 4,886 newly enrolled children as participants—were selected. All data were collected using an online platform, on which parents or caregivers reported their children's history of abuse and completed the Strengths and Difficulties Questionnaire and Chinese Parent–Child Interaction Scale. Result: The reporting rate of child abuse in Hainan Province was 61.81%. Specifically, frequent physical abuse (odds ratio [ OR ] = 1.44, 95% confidence interval [ CI ] = 1.15–1.80), occasional physical neglect (OR = 1.75, 95% CI = 1.37–2.11), frequent physical neglect (OR = 1.57, 95% CI = 1.31–1.87), and frequent emotional abuse (OR = 1.57, 95% CI = 1.31–1.87) were associated with a higher overall rate of difficulties. Frequent physical abuse (OR = 1.33, 95% CI = 1.08–1.64) and frequent emotional abuse (OR = 1.36, 95% CI = 1.16–1.61) were correlated with a higher rate of prosocial problems. A significant interaction was observed between parent–child interaction and occasional physical neglect on psychological well-being (OR = 0.73, 95% CI = 0.54–0.98, p = 0.035). Conclusion: Preschool children who experience maltreatment exhibit an increased risk of developing psychological health issues, indicating a cumulative effect. Our study indicates that positive parent–child interaction mitigates occasional physical neglect's negative impact on preschool children's psychological well-being but does not exhibit a moderating effect on frequent physical neglect or other forms of maltreatment. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Nearly four in ten children report experiencing maltreatment by adulthood. Educators in school settings may be crucial for early detection that mitigates maltreatment's negative effects. Administrative data on reports of child maltreatment across the United States over 14 years allow us to use two different regression discontinuity methods, one based on school-entry laws and one on school calendars, to identify the role of educators in reporting. Both methods show educators are reporting cases that would otherwise go unreported. These findings are relevant for understanding the consequences of school closures during the COVID-19 pandemic and for improving identification and reporting. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

ABSTRACT For over 15 years the Japanese government has promoted a national campaign on child abuse awareness and tasked authorities with addressing rising child abuse reports. With an orange ribbon as its symbol, a key aspect of this campaign, alongside casework, is the creation and circulation of visual‐discursive representations of abused children. Drawing on 18 months of ethnographic fieldwork on child protection practice, this paper contextualises the social construction of child abuse by critiquing the cultural and technical logics of abuse and protection discourse. Appeals to vulnerability, rights and duty bridge public and expert fields and position an image of pity as a call to action that drives child abuse prevalence as well as enduring dispositions by the state towards intrafamily normativity and a minimalist welfare state. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In this case study, we present an instance of genital lichen sclerosus et atrophicus that was initially misdiagnosed as child sexual abuse. A 6-year-old female presented to the emergency department with complaints of vaginal bleeding accompanied by pruritus. The initial suspicion of child abuse was prompted by the presence of blood. However, a thorough physical examination conducted by the forensic department ruled out any traumatic injuries and instead suggested an underlying pathology, ultimately diagnosed as lichen sclerosus et atrophicus. This case report underscores the vital role of forensics in excluding abuse as a cause in similar presentations, guiding the case towards a more accurate diagnosis. Additionally, it emphasizes the significance of possessing a comprehensive understanding of pathologies that can mimic abusive injuries, thereby preventing the potential consequences of an incorrect abuse diagnosis. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Child sexual abuse (CSA) is a widespread and alarming issue, with an estimated global prevalence of 12–13% (affecting 18% of girls and 8% of boys). Despite its prevalence, many physicians working with children have insufficient knowledge of the medical diagnosis of CSA. This lack of expertise, combined with the sensitive and complex nature of these cases, often hampers proper identification and management. Diagnosing CSA is particularly challenging and requires specialized skills. A majority of children assessed for suspected sexual abuse present with normal genital and anal findings, which complicates the diagnostic process. Barriers such as professional isolation, societal taboos, and the sensitive nature of the subject often result in diagnostic failures. Accurate medical history taking, diagnosis, and documentation of findings are essential for ensuring a precise diagnosis, safeguarding children, and supporting legal proceedings. However, achieving these goals remains elusive without standardized guidelines and adequately trained healthcare professionals. Training of professionals in observing and reporting child sexual abuse is badly needed. This review explores the current state of medical diagnosis in suspected cases of CSA. This article is based on a selective review of pertinent literature retrieved from various databases, including PubMed and the overall index of the Quarterly Update. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This study analyses teachers' knowledge about child maltreatment in the family and explores their professional background in dealing with this problem. 227 pre-school and primary teachers from Andalusia (Spain) participated in the study. The majority of the teachers had never reported a case of child maltreatment during their professional background. These situations were experienced by the teachers with high levels of emotional impact, and both they and their schools showed high levels of involvement in cases identified. Three teacher profiles were identified, the group of trained teachers being the most capable of identifying more complex signs of child maltreatment, followed by those with more years of seniority. The process of detection and reporting of child maltreatment in the school setting is complex, and a wide range of elements need to be analysed conjointly. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Child abuse and neglect (CAN) is a complex issue that is subject to both under- and overreporting; yet, research into the underlying neighborhood-level drivers of these practices remains limited. The current study gathered perspectives from 30 child protective service (CPS) workers and agency leaders in Southern California neighborhoods to identify perceptions of social and contextual neighborhood factors that might influence over- and underreporting of CAN. The data were analyzed using a grounded theory approach, which revealed five themes: (a) neighborhood conflict, (b) neighborhood fear and mistrust, (c) neighborhood norms, (d) poor CAN reporting knowledge, and (e) mandated reporters' discretion. These themes highlight the potential impact of neighborhood contexts and social dynamics on CAN reporting practices, emphasizing the need for prevention and early intervention neighborhood-level initiatives that improve CPS relationships within their local community. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In light of limited existing knowledge, we aimed to examine the connection between disclosure facilitators and delays in the context of forensic interviews. We examined interview records from 403 children under 18 suspected of sexual abuse at a child advocacy center. The forensic interview records, family interview forms, and psychiatric examination reports in the files were retrospectively examined. Frequency, mean, and chi-square tests were implemented to analyze the data. The reasons for facilitating and delaying the disclosure of abuse were evaluated using a descriptive analysis method. Of the cases, 79.4% were girls, and 74% were in the 12–18 age group. It was determined that the presence of witnesses, evidence, and messages (16.37%) and discomfort with the suspect's/abuser's behavior (11.66%) facilitated the disclosure of abuse. On the other hand, reporting of abuse was delayed due to the suspect's/abuser's threats (18.85%) and the victim's fear, embarrassment and avoidance of her/his family (10.66%). The characteristics of abuse and disclosure reasons varied based on age groups and the intimacy level of the suspect. It has been observed that pre-adolescent children may face cognitive obstacles in disclosing abuse. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

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ABSTRACT: Context: Child abuse and neglect can be described as all kinds of physical, emotional, and sexual abuse, neglect, commercial and/or any other type of exploitation resulting in any potential of causing hurt or an actual form of harm to a child's general health, growth, survival, and dignity. The dentist is in a position to identify physical signs of physical abuse in a child hence, it is important to gauge the knowledge level and perception regarding child abuse and neglect. Aim: The aim of the present study was to ascertain the knowledge, attitude, and experience regarding child abuse and neglect among dentists in India. Materials and Methods: This cross-sectional, descriptive, survey-based study was conducted on 100 dental practitioners all over India using a pre-validated questionnaire. The study was approved by the institutional ethics committee. Responses received were recorded in an Excel Worksheet and analyzed using descriptive statistics and Chi-square statistical tool using SPSS software (version 21.0). Results: We found that 85% of respondents reported child abuse cases of a physical and sexual nature and 87% had knowledge that law enforcement agencies are responsible for reporting such cases. Also, 56% believed that such cases could be reported using electronic mail while other sources were telephone, letters, or personal intervention. Only 12% were fearful of litigation and 24% were concerned about such exposure to a child. Conclusion: A total of 11% of dentists experienced barriers in reporting such cases while 17% reported with no barriers. Child abuse and neglect are often underreported due to various reasons. This survey has attempted to assess the knowledge, attitude, and experience about child abuse and neglect and has found a few prominent reasons for not reporting such incidents. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Child abuse in Taiwan is a major societal concern that severely affects the well-being of children. Despite the complexity in detecting abuse, reports of child abuse are increasing, evidenced by a rise in cases and heightened awareness. This study utilizes judicial judgments as a lens to understand the varied interpretations of child abuse by clinical and forensic experts and explores the broader epidemiological trends of such abuse within the declining youth population of Taiwan. Methods: We conducted a retrospective study by analyzing official court judgments on child abuse allegations judged from 2008 to 2022 from the online database of Judicial Yuan. Furthermore, the study analyzed demographic factors, injury patterns, and opinions from various experts. Results: The results reveal that severe criminal cases of child abuse predominantly involve biological fathers as the primary offenders and physical abuse as the most common form of maltreatment. Victims are typically aged less than 5 years, which frequently leads to an unfavorable prognosis. Analysis also highlights the TEN-4-FACESp acronym as a highly predictive indicator of child abuse and underscores the prevalence of abusive head trauma (AHT). Moreover, the findings emphasize ongoing disparities in opinions between forensic medical examiners and clinical physicians, especially in AHT cases, which potentially influences judicial decisions. Conclusions: In summary, the study reveals ongoing disagreements between forensic medical examiners and clinical physicians, especially in cases of AHT, which may impact judicial decisions. Promoting consensus through interdisciplinary collaboration and improved communication can aid in revealing the truth in child abuse cases. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Deaf people, and those who engage in criminal offending have independently been identified as groups at risk for childhood trauma, though consideration of their intersectional impact is limited. The adverse childhood experiences (ACEs) of 26 males detained to a deaf secure mental health service were explored. Overall, 92.3% of participants had experienced an ACE. Most participants had experienced multiple adversities (Median = 6), with 73.1% exposed to four or more, and 57.7% exposed to six or more. Most participants (76.9%) had experienced both child maltreatment and household adversity. The most prevalent ACEs were emotional neglect and parental separation (76.9%). Participants who had been subject to a care order reported more child maltreatment ACEs (p =.02). Given the pervasive ACE histories of deaf people in secure mental health services, the integration of trauma-informed practices within an environment that is sensitive and responsive to the complex trauma needs of this population is of paramount importance. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The article explores the relationship between child maltreatment and inhaled corticosteroid (ICS) responsiveness in youth with asthma. The study, conducted on African American and Puerto Rican youth aged 8-20 years, found that children with a history of maltreatment were more likely to experience improved asthma-related quality of life after ICS treatment compared to those without such history. Despite limitations in statistical power and generalizability, the findings highlight the importance of ICS treatment for children with asthma and maltreatment history. The study suggests that ICS may be more beneficial for youth with maltreatment history due to prior suboptimal asthma management or enhanced perception of improvement in quality of life. [Extracted from the article]

Aim: To determine the attitudes and responses of Victorian paediatric intensive care doctors to the detection and reporting of child maltreatment. Methods: A prospective study conducted in a 30‐bed paediatric intensive care unit of a university teaching hospital using data collected from a questionnaire completed by paediatric intensive care consultants and registrars. The questionnaire covered the following domains – doctors' knowledge of Victorian mandatory reporting legislation, doctors' history of reporting and doctors' current role in the detection and reporting of child maltreatment. Results: The questionnaire was completed by 37 doctors. All but one doctor considered their role in the detection and reporting of all six forms of maltreatment (physical abuse, sexual abuse, emotional abuse, neglect, exposure to domestic violence and grooming to facilitate later sexual activity with a child) very important or somewhat important. Thirty‐two percent of doctors did not feel adequately trained to detect child maltreatment while 51% did not feel adequately trained to report maltreatment. If a doctor wanted to make a report to Child Protection about the physical or sexual abuse of a child, only one would likely make Child Protection their first point of contact. Conclusions: Paediatric intensive care doctors show a strong intent to detect and report child maltreatment across a broad range of maltreatment types. Doctors are likely to contact one or more members of a child's care team and/or one or more relevant hospital/community services before making a report to Child Protection about the physical or sexual abuse of a child. Opportunities exist for the further education of doctors in regards to the detection and reporting of child maltreatment. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Research and parenting programs across the world emphasize two dimensions of parenting: warmth and control. Cross-country literature demonstrates many commonalities across samples on warmth; however, differences are evident with control, largely due to cultural and contextual nuances. Scant literature exists on parenting in Kenya, where half of Kenyans report experiencing child maltreatment typically by parents. Kenyan culture is a unique developmental niche important to understand and inform policies and parenting program development to reduce maltreatment. The purpose of this study was to understand perspectives on parenting strategies with young children, from a sample of Kenyans with varying experiences involving children (e.g., parents, community members). To our knowledge, this study is the first qualitative assessment of parenting practices among children under age 6 in Kenya. The 91 participants (62% female, all ≥18 years) completed interviews or focus groups. Based on a thematic data analysis, five themes emerged: (a) parental roles, (b) expressions of warmth, (c) cultural practices with children, (d) control strategies, and (e) factors impacting effective parenting. This study's findings have several implications for both informal and formal supports of families with young children. The findings offer insight into how Kenyans engage in parental warmth and control strategies, including those that are seen as culturally acceptable or harmful, and can inform the development or adaptation of parenting programs for Kenya. Furthermore, these findings offer important considerations for local and federal leaders in how to advance Kenya's policies and efforts to reduce childhood violence and promote healthy child development. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Mandated reporting is the current system in place for school personnel to support youth whom they suspect have experienced maltreatment. However, limited research details the experiences of mandated reporters. Thus, the current study utilizes reflexive thematic analysis to explore how school personnel identify and respond to suspected abuse. Analysis of interviews with 14 school personnel who made reports resulted in three themes: (1) the subjectivity of the decision to report; (2) the absence of youth voices; and (3) experiences navigating inadequate systems of support. Findings illuminate the tensions reporters hold and reinforce calls to implement supports for youth and families. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The ability to identify and report child abuse and neglect at schools plays a significant role in protecting children and reducing the consequences of violence and abuse. This research examines how preschool teachers identify and report child abuse and neglect by focusing on their knowledge and skills in available preventions and interventions. The study sample included 25 preschool teachers from both public and private kindergartens in Türkiye. Thematic analysis was conducted on the interventions around child abuse and neglect using semi-structured interviews. The thematic analysis revealed three themes: (a) challenges in protecting children; (b) being able to identify neglect and abuse; and (c) contributing factors in child protection. Many participants demonstrated an ability to identify the consequences of child abuse and neglect. Key barriers to protecting children were the teachers' difficulties in reporting abuse, struggles within the school environment, parents' normalization of violence and abuse and resistance to changing their behaviors toward children. Based on these findings, a multilevel intervention approach was recommended to address child abuse and neglect in school settings, emphasizing the need for coordinated responses. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Postpartum psychosis (PP) is a psychological emergency requiring rapid intervention, hospitalization and psychiatric management. However, PP has been neglected in the postpartum literature. Understanding the detrimental consequences of childhood trauma across mother's life span is crucial to prevent this serious condition. The study's objectives were to demonstrate the relationship between childhood trauma and postpartum psychotic experiences (PPEs) and to look over the mediating role of postnatal depression (PD) and anxiety (PA) in this relationship. Methods: This cross-sectional study, which enrolled 438 postpartum females 4–6 weeks after delivery (mean age: 31.23 ± 5.24 years), was carried out from September 2022 to June 2023. The Arabic validated versions of the Postpartum Psychotic Experiences Scale, the Edinburgh Postnatal Depression Scale, the Perinatal Anxiety Screening Scale, and the Child Abuse Self Report Scale were used. Results: Both PD and PA partially mediated the correlation between psychological abuse and PPEs, and fully mediated the association between neglect and PPEs. Higher psychological abuse and neglect were significantly associated with higher PD (Beta = 1.11) and PA (Beta = 3.94), higher PD (Beta = 0.84) and PA (Beta = 0.26) were significantly associated with higher PPEs in both models, whereas greater child psychological abuse (Beta = 1.37) (but not neglect) was directly and strongly correlated with higher PPEs in all models. Conclusion: The significant mediating effect of PA and PD on the association between childhood adversities and PPEs among postpartum females may offer additional therapeutic avenues to help attenuate various postpartum mental health issues and their potential serious risks on both mother and child. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Child abuse reporting policies in the form of mandatory reporting continues to expand both in scope and practice across the United States (U.S.). With this development, it is important to understand whether there is a relationship between mandatory reporting laws and reporting behavior while analyzing how any response differs across professional organizations. Mandatory reporting laws serve as a top-down policy used by legislatures to alter the reporting behavior of practitioners, especially within education, law enforcement, and the social services. The reporting behavior of these professionals are important to analyze because they account for the three largest reporting groups in the U.S. After investigating 18 years of child abuse reporting state data from the National Data Archive on Child Abuse and Neglect, I find that the reporting response to this policy differs across professional organizations. Both law enforcement and social workers reporting of suspected abuse does not change regardless of whether the reporting law is adopted. Education personnel, on the other hand, do alter their reporting behavior when a mandatory reporting law is enacted. Specifically, the decline in reporting is attenuated after the policy is put in place. These findings demonstrate the challenges associated with designing child abuse protection policies that influence multiple professional organizations. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abusive head trauma (AHT) is a criminal offence that is prosecuted ex officio, following report to the police from physicians or child protection services. The aim of this study was to assess whether the judicial outcome (dismissal vs indictment) was influenced by the quality of the medical documentation and/or the time span between AHT diagnosis and reporting child abuse to the police. The cohort was divided in two groups: 13/23 dismissals (57%) and 10/23 indictments (43%). The diagnostic probability of the AHT cases was certain for both groups. Nonetheless, in fraction of dismissed cases, alternative explanations for the observed lesions seemed plausible to the public prosecutor. Legal files of only 3/12 dismissed cases had a forensic report, while 6/10 cases that were indicted included a forensic report. Further, the legal file of several dismissed cases entirely lacked medical documentation (3/12), which was not the cases for indicted cases. The period between AHT diagnosis and reporting to the police was not different for dismissals (29 ± 19 days) and indictments (7 ± 4 days) (p = 0.32). Physicians filed reports more rapidly (6 ± 1 days) compared to childhood protection service (70 ± 46 days) (p = 0.01) and that may increase the rate of indictments (9/18) compared to reporting via the childhood protection service (1/5). Despite diagnostic certainty, other causes for the lesions were considered as plausible alternative explanations to judicial professionals in several dismissed cases. These seemed to have less medical documentation and forensic evaluations. In addition, more rapid reporting to the police by physicians seems to increase the likelihood of indictments. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Child welfare (CW) professionals are charged with investigating reports of alleged child maltreatment and determining whether and what type of maltreatment has occurred. Multiple factors contribute to the difficulty of making maltreatment-related decisions. The Decision-Making Ecology (DME) as developed to capture the various factors – beyond child safety-related information – that influence CW decision-making, ranging from family-to community-level factors. This study examined how the relationship between CW-involved parents and child protective caseworkers affects maltreatment-related decision-making. We propose that this relationship independently influences CW decision-making processes and should be included in the DME framework. Finally, we make recommendations to CW agencies that would improve maltreatment decision-making processes. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The consequences of poorly processed reports of child abuse and neglect, along with governance challenges in child protection systems, are well-documented. Recent research, inquiries and royal commissions emphasise the need for child-centered and participatory practices that support the rights and dignity of children and their families. However, the challenges of quality case recording in child protection systems and contexts remain unclear. This paper reports on the findings from a pilot study that interviewed (n = 22) and surveyed (n = 56) social work students and social work curriculum developers from Australian Universities and practitioners currently working in the Australian child protection service system. By capturing participants' professional insights, we aim to understand the embedded barriers to transforming child-centered systems by focusing on strengths and possibilities in current practices rather than reiterating deficiencies in recordkeeping. This paper reveals insights into how professionals working in the child protection system understand and are supported in child-centered case note recording and recordkeeping practices. It also identifies the possibilities for the crucial role that interdisciplinary collaboration and alignment between social work and recordkeeping informatics can play in transforming and supporting recordkeeping approaches and practices that prioritise and uphold the rights and dignity of the child. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Child abuse and neglect (CAN) have long-lasting effects on a child’s physical, social, and psychological development. Teachers have a unique position to identify, protect, and intervene in these cases, but they often fail to help children in need. This study aims to describe and investigate the factors associated with CAN reporting behavior of school teachers and counselors from Romania using the Theory of Planned Behavior (TPB) as a framework. Methods. We conducted a mixed-method study using a modified version of the Child Abuse Intention to Report Scale (CARIS-R). 1025 teachers (91,7% female) participated in the survey. Quantitative and qualitative data analyses were performed to explore the predictors of intention to report CAN and the reasons to report CAN. Results. More than half of the teachers (51.9%) suspected at least one CAN case, but only 28.1% reported their concerns. Attitudes towards child discipline and professional responsibility, direct subjective norms, and perceived behavioral control were significant predictors of intention to report CAN. Eight categories of reasons might influence a teacher’s decision to report CAN, including the type of abuse, the teacher’s characteristics, or the perceived social support. Conclusions. This study’s findings contribute to our understanding of the individual factors that can influence teachers’ intention to report CAN in Romania. Teachers from Romania should have the opportunity to participate in evidence-based training, which fosters their confidence in making CAN reports. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The article in the Journal of Paediatrics & Child Health discusses how unexplained bruises in premobile infants can sometimes be caused by self-soothing sucking. It presents a case of a 3-month-old infant with a bruise on his forearm, which was determined to be caused by sucking after observation and video evidence. The article emphasizes the importance of considering sucking bruises in infants to avoid unnecessary investigations and distress to families. It also highlights the need for a comprehensive assessment of unexplained bruises in infants to rule out abusive trauma and medical mimics. [Extracted from the article]

Background: This study aims to investigate the moderating influence of social support and religiosity in the association between child abuse and entrapment during adulthood. This cross-sectional study recruited 352 Lebanese adults between November 2022 and January 2023. The survey included several sociodemographic items and validated instruments like the Child Abuse Self Report Scale, the Entrapment Scale Short Form, the Centrality of Religiosity Scale, and the Multidimensional Scale of Perceived Social Support. Results: The moderation analysis indicates that there is a positive relationship between physical abuse, sexual abuse, and neglect with entrapment, and the intensity of this correlation may vary depending on various levels of social support and religiosity. Religiosity and social support may help mitigate the intensity of entrapment experienced, making it less severe when support or religiosity is high but not enough to lead to a negative relationship between child abuse and entrapment. Conclusion: This study is crucial as it recognizes the long-lasting impact of child abuse and its potential relationship with feelings of entrapment in adulthood, especially that it stresses long-term follow-up and support for survivors with regular assessments of coping strategies to help individuals navigate challenges and promote continued healing. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

INTRODUCTION: Despite the rising number of child abuse in Malaysia, there are only few studies documenting early childcare providers' (ECPs') intention to report child abuse. ECPs play a vital impact because they closely interact with the children and nearly daily observe them. They should take the lead in ending the cycle of abuse in order to safeguard the children. The aim of our study was to determine the factors that influence ECPs' intentions to report child abuse. MATERIALS AND METHOD: 457 ECPs working in preschools registered under the Community Development Department in Kelantan, the North-eastern part of peninsular Malaysia participated in a cross-sectional study utilising the Early Childhood Educators Child Abuse Questionnaire (ECECAQ) in Malay, which has been validated. RESULTS: Increasing knowledge was significantly associated with the intention to report to the authorities as revealed by multiple logistic regression. CONCLUSION: Our findings justify the need for a comprehensive module and integrated standardized training on child abuse for ECPs in Malaysia to improve their knowledge, thus empowering them to report any child abuse case. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Importance: Child maltreatment is associated with serious negative physical, psychological, and behavioral consequences. Objective: To review the evidence on primary care–feasible or referable interventions to prevent child maltreatment to inform the US Preventive Services Task Force. Data Sources: PubMed, Cochrane Library, and trial registries through February 2, 2023; references, experts, and surveillance through December 6, 2023. Study Selection: English-language, randomized clinical trials of youth through age 18 years (or their caregivers) with no known exposure or signs or symptoms of current or past maltreatment. Data Extraction and Synthesis: Two reviewers assessed titles/abstracts, full-text articles, and study quality, and extracted data; when at least 3 similar studies were available, meta-analyses were conducted. Main Outcomes and Measures: Directly measured reports of child abuse or neglect (reports to Child Protective Services or removal of the child from the home); proxy measures of abuse or neglect (injury, visits to the emergency department, hospitalization); behavioral, developmental, emotional, mental, or physical health and well-being; mortality; harms. Results: Twenty-five trials (N = 14 355 participants) were included; 23 included home visits. Evidence from 11 studies (5311 participants) indicated no differences in likelihood of reports to Child Protective Services within 1 year of intervention completion (pooled odds ratio, 1.03 [95% CI, 0.84-1.27]). Five studies (3336 participants) found no differences in removal of the child from the home within 1 to 3 years of follow-up (pooled risk ratio, 1.06 [95% CI, 0.37-2.99]). The evidence suggested no benefit for emergency department visits in the short term (<2 years) and hospitalizations. The evidence was inconclusive for all other outcomes because of the limited number of trials on each outcome and imprecise results. Among 2 trials reporting harms, neither reported statistically significant differences. Contextual evidence indicated (1) widely varying practices when screening, identifying, and reporting child maltreatment to Child Protective Services, including variations by race or ethnicity; (2) widely varying accuracy of screening instruments; and (3) evidence that child maltreatment interventions may be associated with improvements in some social determinants of health. Conclusion and Relevance: The evidence base on interventions feasible in or referable from primary care settings to prevent child maltreatment suggested no benefit or insufficient evidence for direct or proxy measures of child maltreatment. Little information was available about possible harms. Contextual evidence pointed to the potential for bias or inaccuracy in screening, identification, and reporting of child maltreatment but also highlighted the importance of addressing social determinants when intervening to prevent child maltreatment. This systematic review to support a 2024 US Preventive Services Task Force Recommendation Statement summarizes published evidence on the benefits and harms of primary care interventions to prevent child maltreatment among youth through age 18 years with no known exposure or signs or symptoms of current or past maltreatment. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The recognition and reporting of child abuse and neglect continues to be a challenge in the healthcare setting. All healthcare providers, including dentists, should be aware of the high prevalence of orofacial injuries and conditions that are concerning for abuse and neglect. Sentinel injuries may appear trivial and do not require medical attention, but are unlikely caused by accidental mechanisms and, if not properly identified, often precede more severe abusive injuries. Concerning orofacial findings can manifest as bruising, eye injuries, intraoral injuries, pharyngeal perforations, facial bone fractures, and sexually transmitted infections. Abusive caregivers are likely to give inadequate explanations or no history at all to explain concerning findings. Medical providers' failure to make mandated reports about their concerns to the appropriate agencies can have significant long‐term impacts on the physical and psychological well‐being of children. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The impact of child abuse experiences on the concept of self has been documented, however, using the qualitative method to further understand the subjective experiences of victims' self-concept has not been done. Ten participants aged 19 to 22 reporting a history of child abuse experiences provided subjective feelings of the effects following these experiences in the form of a semi-structured interview. Using interpretative phenomenological analysis (IPA), there were 5 superordinate themes, including self-perceptions, negative perceptions of others/ the world, difficulties in interpersonal relationships, emotional regulation skills and personal characteristics in the present study. The results showed that (1) victims had some negative perceptions of themselves and of others but also had some positive self-perceptions. (2) Victims had some maladaptive characteristics, such as amorality or manipulation, for self-protection and maintaining social harmony; (3) and they easily suppressed their non-anger emotions. (4) They encountered social and intimate relationship difficulties. The subjective feelings of child abuse victims explored many negative perceptions of the self and others and showed the sensitivity of rejection in interpersonal relationships. Some negative personal characteristics and emotional suppression were also found among victims. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Why do people hesitate to summon state authorities to address concerns? Previous research has focused on cultural orientations about law enforcement, such as legal cynicism. In addition, people are often in a position to turn others in, requiring attention to how potential reporters understand the meaning and consequences of implicating others. This article identifies empathy as an underexamined lens through which marginalized groups view state intervention. I argue that amid shared social roles with those potentially reported to authorities, individuals invoke empathy in disavowing reporting. I advance this argument using the case of child abuse and neglect reporting, analyzing in-depth interviews with 74 low-income mothers in Rhode Island. Respondents disavowed or expressed ambivalence about reporting other families to child protection authorities, often justifying their non-reporting by empathizing with mothers they might report. Drawing on their own experiences of scrutinized and precarious motherhood, respondents imagined how they would feel if reported and balked at calling on child protective services, understanding reporting as an act of judging and jeopardizing another's motherhood. The findings challenge conceptions of non-reporting as necessarily indicating social disorganization. Rather, hesitation to mobilize authorities can constitute an expression of care, kinship, and solidarity. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Mandated reporting was broadly enacted in the 1960s with good intentions and in a very different historical context regarding societal knowledge and recognition of child abuse. It has since expanded drastically regarding who must report and what must be reported. In the same sixty years, no research has demonstrated its efficacy. However, research does suggest that mandated reporting creates independent harms concentrated within low-income and minority communities. On top of the potential trauma of an investigation stemming from a report, mandated reporting also serves to isolate families, cutting them off from community support. Mandated reporters are most commonly those in helping professions. They have themselves protested the barriers these laws create to their work. In short, mandated reporting is a practice that does more harm than good. Four million calls are made annually reporting suspected child neglect and abuse. Those four million calls, representing 7 million children, result in a 3.5% substantiation rate for abuse--the discovery of 240,000 children who are administratively deemed to be victims of abuse. An additional estimated 360,000 are deemed victims of neglect, a nebulous category often conflated with poverty. Meanwhile, another 2.5 million children are unnecessarily subject to intrusive and potentially traumatic child protective services investigations. A main driver of this harmful excess in reporting is statutorily mandated reporting of suspected child abuse or neglect in every state. No one wants to leave those 240,000 children, or any children, without protection. But a practice that is not proven to effectively help them and that has been shown to harm ten times as many other children, as well as persistently disproportionately negatively impact marginalized communities, defies common sense. Ending mandated reporting while leaving permissive reporting and training for professionals in its place will benefit every stakeholder involved in the system. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Introduction: Child sexual abuse (CSA) is a worldwide problem. It is associated with a range of adverse consequences. There has been no report assessing media reporting of CSA in Nepal. We aimed to assess the pattern of reporting of news by media on the topic of CSA in Nepal. Methods: We did a content analysis of articles from online archives in the two most popular English-language newspapers published in Nepal on reporting of CSA from the period between June 1, 2020, and August 31, 2021. A predesigned proforma was used and a descriptive analysis was carried out. Results: A total of 142 English newspaper articles reporting on CSA were analysed. The majority of reports (83.1%, n = 118) had an episodic framing. Overall, 90.1% of the reports mentioned some form of action taken by the authorities indicating the criminal justice point of view for CSA. The information identifying the victim(s) was presented in 15 news reports. 28.9% (n = 43) of news reports had some information about possible steps to prevent events and none of the news reports provided a child helpline number or contact information for any other child support/welfare services. Conclusions: The reports presented an episodic frame and focused on details of individual cases and steps taken by the criminal justice system. There is a gross lack of information about the causes of CSA and steps to prevent them like an expert opinion, help lines, crisis management, etc. There is an urgent need to develop national guidelines in order to improve the media reporting of CSA. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

ABSTRACT Munchausen syndrome by proxy is extremely difficult to diagnose. A case is presented of a 17‐month‐old girl who repeatedly sustained cold burns caused by a spray deodorant and inflicted by her mother. A comprehensive medical investigation, including blood assessments, skin biopsies and imaging were inconclusive. The pivotal finding for the diagnosis was the detection of aluminum at high concentrations in the skin swab specimens utilizing mass spectrometry. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Rationale: Intimate partner violence and child maltreatment have been separately associated with asthma in adults. No study has concurrently examined of adulthood adverse events (including, but not limited to, intimate partner violence) and child maltreatment on asthma in adults. Objectives: To concurrently examine of adulthood adverse events and child maltreatment on asthma in adults. Methods: This was a cross-sectional study of adulthood adverse events and child maltreatment on current asthma in 87,891 adults 40-69 years old who participated in the UK Biobank. Adulthood adverse events were assessed using questions adapted from a national crime survey. Child maltreatment was ascertained using the Childhood Trauma Screener questionnaire. Current asthma was defined as physician-diagnosed asthma and current wheeze and was further classified as noneosinophilic or eosinophilic according to eosinophil count (<300 vs. ≥300 cells per microliter). Results: In a multivariable analysis, participants who reported two or more types of adulthood adverse events had 1.19-1.45 times significantly higher odds of asthma than those who did not, whereas participants who reported two or more types of child maltreatment had 1.25-1.59 significantly higher odds of asthma than those who reported no child maltreatment. After stratification by sex, similar results were obtained for child maltreatment in women and men, whereas adulthood adverse events were only significantly associated with asthma in women. Similar findings were observed in analyses that were restricted to never-smokers and former smokers with <10 pack-years of smoking and in analyses of noneosinophilic and eosinophilic asthma. Conclusions: In a cohort of British adults, child maltreatment was associated with current asthma in men and women, whereas adulthood adverse events were associated with current asthma in women only. This was independent of cigarette smoking or eosinophil count. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This empirical work is based on the partial phased findings of a colossal PhD work done with core objective of highlighting the role of TV web channels in representation of dilemma-oriented aspects, pertaining child sexual abuse reporting and such news' psychosocial impact on media consumers. The research strategy was mainly exploratory and was based on qualitative research design. This was targeted that major stakeholders in child sexual abuse news, need to be consulted in order to shed light on the menace of child sexual abuse's media reporting as this is being catastrophized due to misrepresentation of over-exaggerated aspects of abuse. Those professional reporters, news framers and news producers (15 from each category) who reported that they have been reporting on such matters in past five years or more were targeted as potential participants' of current research. Interview protocol guide was employed in this regard. The findings revealed that sexual abuse news content stakeholders reported that they had limited skills, technical insight, personal emotional issues, emotional exhaustion and burnout, limited insight regarding experts in dealing sensitive matters and diffusion of responsibilities due to which such news content was handled by them inapt ways. They also reported as having individual, familial, contextual and cultural factors that caused them hurdles. The emerging themes revealed that relevant education paucity not only stand out as foundational deficit rather also makes us turn into debilitated state of dismay. Furthermore, lack of relevant training in framing of such sensational news, fear of consequences and professional burn out are emerged as other main themes. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Child maltreatment continues to be a significant problem across the globe. Despite the many negative outcomes of child maltreatment documented in the literature, there is limited research on how school practitioners are prepared for identifying and reporting cases of maltreatment. This study examined school practitioners' preparedness for reporting and identifying child maltreatment. Participants were a random sample of 141 school practitioners from California and Pennsylvania. Data were collected over a 6-week period via an anonymous internet survey. Overall, results indicate that most school practitioners had mixed perceptions about their ability to identify and report maltreatment. Interpretations of the data are provided with recommendations for collaborative preservice training and in-service training approaches. Implications and recommendations for future research are provided. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The purpose of the present study was to analyze and understand the experiences of school counselors regarding the reporting of sexual abuse cases and to offer solutions. This study, which was based on a qualitative design, was also based on a phenomenological approach. The study group was determined with the purposeful sampling method and consisted of 15 school counselors who had previously reported sexual abuse cases in 15 different cities. The five main themes that emerged as a result of the thematic analysis of the qualitative interviews with the participants were as follows; "Security Problem of School Counselors," "Chain of Ethical Violations," "Judicial Process," "Competence," "Reputation Issue" and finally "School Counselor's Disclosure Dilemma." The victim's family and environment, the accused and the environment, and the school administration are exposed to pressures in the process of reporting sexual abuse cases, as a result of these pressures, they give up the legal obligation to run the judicial reporting process, the chain of ethical violations and difficulties in the investigation and prosecution process, and the spiral of not seeing themselves as professionally competent are at the center of the experiences of school counselors who report sexual abuse cases. Practitioner Points: It was determines that one of the most important reasons for not being able to report sexual abuse was the belief that the reputation of the school, the family and the victim would deteriorate. It can be said that the reputation of the family, the child and the school is more important than the mental health of the child. It indicates that although school counselors partially know the laws and regulations regarding the reporting of child sexual abuse, they give up reporting due to the psychological pressures of the school and the family. Therefore, it can be said that school counselors have ethical dilemmas about reporting sexual abuse. It shows that long trial processes often result in sexual abuse cases against the victim, the dismissal of the case (the victim's change of expression as a result of family pressure) and the release of the accused with the condition of judicial control most of the time, causing him to repeat the act of sexual abuse. It can be said that this situation can be harmful the safety of the reporting school counselor. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Dental professionals could play a significant role in identifying, documenting and reporting child maltreatment to appropriate authorities as children are exposed to various maltreatments that can present in the head and neck region. Aim: The aim of this paper is to assess the level of knowledge, awareness and attitude among dental professionals regarding child maltreatment and to identify the barriers that prevent reporting suspected maltreatment. Methodology: The present cross-sectional questionnaire-based study was conducted on dental professionals practising in India by emailing a self-structured questionnaire to assess knowledge, awareness and attitude regarding child maltreatment. Results: 422 dental professionals participated in the survey of which 270 were females. A significant difference was observed in mean knowledge (p=.015), awareness (p=.014) score of the participants with regard to place of work and mean knowledge score (p=.024) of the participants with regard to educational qualification. 300 participants reported that lack of adequate knowledge and awareness about the role of dental professionals regarding child maltreatment is one of the major barriers that prevent reporting child maltreatment. Conclusion: Findings of the study showed that 43.8% of participants had good knowledge and 44.8% were fairly aware regarding child maltreatment. 86.7% of participants showed a very good attitude towards learning more about the role of dental professionals in the management of child maltreatment. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Introduction: The accurate identification and appropriate investigation of child maltreatment is a key priority for promoting the optimal health and development of children. Healthcare providers are often well-positioned professionals to report suspected child abuse and neglect, and, therefore, interact regularly with child welfare workers. Little research has examined the relationship between these two groups of professionals. Methods: We interviewed healthcare providers and child welfare workers in order to examine the referral and child welfare investigation processes to understand strengths and identify areas of improvement for future collaboration. Thirteen child welfare workers from child welfare agencies and eight healthcare providers from a pediatric tertiary care hospital in Ontario, Canada were interviewed to meet the study's objectives. Results: Healthcare providers spoke about positive experiences making reports, factors impacting reporting decisions, areas for improvement (e.g., difficulties communicating, lack of collaboration, and disruption of therapeutic alliance), training, and professional roles. For interviews with child welfare workers, identified themes included healthcare professionals' perceived expertise and understanding the role of child welfare. Both groups brought up the need for increased collaboration as well as systemic barriers and legacies of harm. Discussion: Our core finding was a reported lack of communication between the groups of professionals. Other identified barriers in collaboration included a lack of understanding of each other's roles, hesitation for healthcare providers making reports, as well as legacies of harm and systemic inequities in both institutions. Future research should build on this examination by including the voices of healthcare providers and child welfare workers to identify sustainable solutions for increased collaboration. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

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The American Journal of Psychiatry's Residents' Journal for September 2024 features several articles on various topics. One article discusses the impact of California's Senate Bill 43 on the state's mental health system, highlighting that it represents a quantitative legal change rather than a qualitative one. Another article examines the mental health implications of abortion and abortion restrictions in the United States, suggesting that women who obtain abortions do not have worse mental health outcomes directly related to the procedure. A third article explores the ethical challenges associated with mandatory child abuse reporting in cases of questionable confessions. Additionally, there is an article on the ethical considerations of MDMA-assisted psychotherapy for PTSD, emphasizing the need for continued research and careful regulation. The journal also includes other articles on topics such as involuntary hospitalization, medical assistance in dying, and patient discharge. [Extracted from the article]

Alexithymia refers to difficulties identifying and describing one's emotions. Growing evidence suggests that alexithymia is a key transdiagnostic risk factor. Despite its clinical importance, the etiology of alexithymia is largely unknown. The present study employs meta-analytic methods to summarize findings on the role of one hypothesized antecedent of adult alexithymia, namely child maltreatment. We obtained effect size estimates from 99 independent samples reported in 78 unique sources that reported both child maltreatment history and adult levels of alexithymia. These studies involved a total of 36,141 participants. Using correlation coefficients as our effect size index, we found that child maltreatment was positively related to overall adult alexithymia (r =.23 [.19,.27]). Notably, emotional abuse (r =.18 [.13,.23]), emotional neglect (r =.21 [.16,.26]), and physical neglect (r =.18 [.15,.22]) were the strongest predictors. Effects were moderated by gender, affiliation with clinical versus nonclinical samples, and publication status. Overall results were robust to publication bias and the presence of outliers. These findings contribute to a more nuanced understanding of the complex connection between different types of child maltreatment and alexithymia, providing greater insight into the early environmental influences on alexithymia. Public Significance Statement: This meta-analysis reveals that adult alexithymia, which is defined by difficulties identifying and describing one's emotions, is linked to child maltreatment. These effects are strongest when individuals experience emotional abuse, emotional neglect, or physical neglect as children. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]