NCJ Number
135778
Journal
Child Abuse and Neglect Volume: 16 Issue: 1 Dated: (1992) Pages: 3-10
Date Published
1992
Length
8 pages
Annotation
This article proposes "Active Surveillance" of all child deaths through the combination and examination of existing information in order to study underlying causes of these deaths and to suggest prevention-oriented public policies and programs.
Abstract
Under the Active Surveillance system, a review team examines information from State agencies pertinent to children and families so as to determine cause of death and collect demographic data on victims and perpetrators. Possibilities for such a system are demonstrated through the use of the information available on birth and death certificates in Kansas. The results from the use of this information to examine 104 infant and early childhood deaths and discussions of the implications of such a system for wider cooperation among State agencies are presented. Significant findings include the very young age of parents at the first pregnancy, the high rate of single parenthood, significantly lower educational achievement of victims' mothers, late and inadequate prenatal care, complications during pregnancy, and low birth weight among victims. Active Surveillance decreases the possibility of misidentifying abuse-related deaths as accidental, identifies patterns in abuse-related fatalities, informs prevention policy, and facilitates the measurement of prevention effectiveness. 2 tables, 13 references, and summaries in French and Spanish