SEVERELY ILL-TREATED YOUNG CHILDREN IN NORTH-EAST WILTSHIRE (ENGLAND)

• NCJ Number: 51371
• Author(s): J E OLIVER; J COX; A TAYLOR; J A BALDWIN
• Date Published: 1974
• Length: 102 pages
• Corporate Author: Oxford University
• Sale Source: National Institute of Justice/
• Publication Type: Report (Study/Research)
• Language: English
• Country: United Kingdom

Annotation

THE EXTENT OF CHILD ABUSE, THE PROBLEM OF ASCERTAINMENT, AND THE PROBLEM OF PREVENTION ARE THE PRINCIPAL MATTERS CONSIDERED IN THIS CLINICAL STUDY OF CHILD ABUSE IN AN ENGLISH COMMUNITY.

Abstract

THIS CLINICAL AND EPIDEMIOLOGICAL STUDY IS APPARENTLY THE FIRST TO ATTEMPT INTENSIVE ASSESSMENT OF THE EXTENT OF SEVERE CHILD ABUSE IN A DEFINED POPULATION. THE CLINICAL PART OF THE STUDY WAS CONDUCTED BY A PSYCHIATRIST, A SOCIOLOGIST, AND A SOCIAL WORKER WITH THE SUPPORT OF CLINICAL RESEARCH FUNDS FROM THE OXFORD REGIONAL HOSPITAL BOARD. NORTHEAST WILTSHIRE (ENGLAND) WAS CHOSEN AS THE STUDY AREA BECAUSE THE CLINICAL RESPONSIBILITIES OF ONE OF THE RESEARCH STAFF INVOLVED ALL THE MAIN PROFESSIONAL DEPARTMENTS WHICH COULD HAVE RECORDS OF, OR KNOWLEDGE ABOUT, YOUNG CHILDREN AT RISK. NORTHEAST WILTSHIRE HAS A POPULATION OF 200,000, WITH 18,500 CHILDREN UNDER 5 YEARS YEARS OLD AND 3,600 LIVE BIRTHS ANNUALLY. THE INVESTIGATION FOCUSED ON 34 FAMILIES WITH 38 YOUNG CHILDREN DETERMINED TO HAVE BEEN ABUSED SEVERELY AT SOME TIME DURING THE STUDY PERIOD OF 1965-1971. DATA ARE INCLUDED FOR THE FOLLOWING ITEMS: THE PRESENTING CHILDREN AND THEIR INJURIES, THE RATE OF SEVERE ABUSE, FEATURES OF THE PRESENTING CHILDREN, DURATION OF SEVERE ABUSE, OUTCOME, STRUCTURE AND FEATURES OF SUBJECT FAMILIES, AND FEATURES OF SIBLINGS OF THE PRESENTING CHILDREN. THE RATE OF 1 NEW CASE REFERRED PER 1,000 CHILDREN UNDER 4 YEARS OF AGE PER YEAR WAS REVEALED FOLLOWING INTENSIVE EDUCATION ACTIVITY WITHIN THE MEDICAL AND SOCIAL WELFARE PROFESSIONS. THE HIGHEST RATE IN THE RETROSPECTIVE DATA WAS AMONG BABIES UNDER 1 YEAR OF AGE. THE MOST IMPORTANT ASPECTS OF ASCERTAINING CHILD ABUSE WHICH EMERGED WERE THE DIFFICULTIES IN RECOGNITION EXPERIENCED BY ALMOST EVERY GROUP OF PROFESSIONAL STAFF INVOLVED AND THE ABSENCE OF EFFECTIVE METHODS WHICH MIGHT BE IMPLEMENTED BY AN APPROPRIATE ORGANIZATION. PREVENTION IS DISCUSSED, BASED ON THE CHARACTERISTICS OF ABUSING PARENTS REVEALED IN THE STUDY. THE APPENDIXES PROVIDE INDICATORS OF ILL TREATMENT OF CHILDREN, SUMMARY CASE HISTORIES OF INDIVIDUAL ABUSING PARENTS IN THE STUDY, AND A LIST OF ORGANIZATIONS AND INDIVIDUALS WHO COLLABORATED IN THE STUDY. REFERENCES AND TABULAR DATA ARE PROVIDED. (RCB)