NCJ Number
206734
Journal
Child Maltreatment Volume: 9 Issue: 3 Dated: August 2004 Pages: 277-291
Date Published
August 2004
Length
15 pages
Annotation
This study examined the effects of secondary or selective prevention programs, particularly early support programs, for families with young children at risk of physical child abuse and neglect.
Abstract
Over the past two decades there has been increasing calls for emphasis on early prevention for families at risk of physically abusing or neglecting their children. Secondary prevention programs focus interventions on specific target groups defined as being at high-risk for maltreatment. Evaluating the quality of prevention efforts is important to optimizing their services. A multilevel meta-analysis was performed on 40 outcome studies of early prevention programs for families with young children at risk for maltreatment. The meta-analysis sought to determine whether there is an overall positive effect of early prevention programs, whether the programs decrease the manifestation of maltreatment, whether the programs have a positive effect on variables involving healthy child and family functioning, and whether the programs are equally effective. The goal of all of the programs was to prevent physical child abuse and neglect by providing family support from the prenatal period through early childhood. Results of the meta-analysis indicated an overall positive effect associated with early prevention programs. A significant decrease was achieved in the manifestation of maltreatment and risk reduction was realized in factors such as child functioning, parent-child interaction, parent functioning, family functioning, and context characteristics. Limitations of the study include methodological problems involving the analysis of various types of studies. Future research should focus on the relationship between effects and program and target-group characteristics. Tables, figures, notes, references