NCJ Number
218623
Journal
Child Abuse Review Volume: 16 Issue: 2 Dated: March-April 2007 Pages: 93-107
Date Published
March 2007
Length
15 pages
Annotation
This study rank ordered the perceptions of experienced health visitors regarding 45 signs, symptoms, and risk factors for child neglect.
Abstract
The findings demonstrated significant within-cohort professional agreement regarding the signs, symptoms, and risk factors for child neglect. Professionals reported the top 10 ranked child neglect characteristics as: (1) violence to the child; (2) child excluded by family; (3) child left unattended or left to care for other children; (4) violence within the home; (5) a high criticism and low warmth home atmosphere; (6) evidence of human or animal excrement; (7) little or no food available; (8) history of child abuse; (9) poor parenting; and (10) unmet medical needs. Least important child neglect indicators included: (1) poverty; (2) poor hygiene; (3) housing and state of clothing; (4) financial pressures; and (5) unemployment. Participants were 92 health visitors working in East Anglia who completed an anonymous self-report mailed survey that asked them to rank order 45 signs, symptoms, and risk factors for child neglect that were derived from the research literature on child abuse and neglect. The survey was conducted during 2002 with participants from care settings in Norfolk, Suffolk, and Cambridgeshire in the United Kingdom. Data were analyzed using SPSS and included the calculations of frequencies, percentages, descriptive statistics, and confidence intervals. Future research is needed on how perception data may be used for education and practice and its impact on the identification and management of child neglect. Tables, references