NCJ Number
68577
Date Published
1978
Length
43 pages
Annotation
A SOCIAL AGENCY IN VANCOUVER, CANADA, SURVEYED 2,600 RANDOMLY SELECTED PROFESSIONALS IN THE HEALTH, SOCIAL SERVICE, EDUCATIONAL AND LAW ENFORCEMENT FIELDS CONCERNING THEIR ATTITUDES AND KNOWLEDGE OF CHILD ABUSE.
Abstract
THE STUDY ESTIMATES THAT 2,010 SEPARATE CASES OF CHILD ABUSE BECOME KNOWN TO THE SAMPLE PROFESSIONALS IN 1976; THE PREVALENCE IS ESTIMATED TO BE MUCH GREATER. SURVEY DATA SUGGEST THAT EDUCATORS, SOCIAL SERVICE PERSONNEL, AND THE POLICE SYSTEMATICALLY UNDERREPORT CHILD ABUSE TO THE BRITISH COLUMBIA REGISTRY OF ABUSED AND NEGLECTED CHILDREN; ONLY 62 PERCENT OF THE SURVEY RESPONDENTS KNEW OF THEIR MANDATE TO REPORT CASES OF SUSPECTED CHILD ABUSE. BOTH INTENTIONAL EMOTIONAL AS WELL AS PHYSICAL ASSAULT WERE RECOGNIZED FORMS OF CHILD ABUSE. IN CONTRA-DISTINCTION TO AN EARLIER AMERICAN STUDY, SEXUAL ASSAULT BY A GUARDIAN WAS RARELY MENTIONED (8 PERCENT). THE STUDY FURTHER ESTABLISHES THAT RAPIDLY URBANIZING MUNICIPALITIES MAY EXPECT NOT ONLY INCREASING PREVALENCE BUT ALSO INCIDENCE OF CHILD ABUSE. BECAUSE THE GENERAL LEVEL OF SOCIO-ECONOMIC WELL-BEING IS A MAJOR FACTOR IN CHILD-ABUSIVE FAMILIES, THERE IS MORE CHILD ABUSE IN TIMES OF HIGH UNEMPLOYMENT AND ECONOMIC INSECURITY. THE STUDY RECOMMENDS THAT THE DEFINITION OF REPORTABLE ABUSE BE NARROWED TO VERIFIABLE FACTORS. PROVISIONS FOR MORE EARLY SUPPORT SERVICES FOR FAMILIES WITH PRE-SCHOOL CHILDREN SHOULD BE MADE. THE STUDY CALLS FOR AN INCREASED NUMBER OF COMMUNITY HEALTH NURSES, A GREATER EMPHASIS ON SCHOOL AND DAY-CARE-BASED EARLY IDENTIFICATION PROGRAMS, AND THE ESTABLISHMENT OF A PROVINCIAL REGISTRY OF CHILD ABUSE INFORMATION. SURVEY INSTRUMENTS, DATA TABLES, AND EIGHT REFERENCES ARE INCLUDED.