Antenatal risk factors for child maltreatment: Linkage of data from a birth cohort study to child welfare records.
Adult
Alcohol Drinking
/ epidemiology
Child
Child Abuse
/ statistics & numerical data
Child, Preschool
Cohort Studies
Data Collection
/ methods
England
/ epidemiology
Ethnicity
/ statistics & numerical data
Family Characteristics
Female
Humans
Male
Maternal Age
Mental Health
/ statistics & numerical data
Mothers
/ statistics & numerical data
Pregnancy
Prevalence
Prospective Studies
Risk Factors
Smoking
/ epidemiology
Socioeconomic Factors
Abuse and neglect
Antenatal
Child maltreatment
Cohort
Linkage
Risk factor
Journal
Child abuse & neglect
ISSN: 1873-7757
Titre abrégé: Child Abuse Negl
Pays: England
ID NLM: 7801702
Informations de publication
Date de publication:
09 2020
09 2020
Historique:
received:
12
02
2020
revised:
05
06
2020
accepted:
08
06
2020
pubmed:
27
6
2020
medline:
6
7
2021
entrez:
27
6
2020
Statut:
ppublish
Résumé
Understanding the risk factors for child maltreatment is critical to efforts to reduce its prevalence. This study investigated the association between characteristics and circumstances of mothers during pregnancy and the subsequent identification of concerns about child maltreatment. The study drew on two data sets: (i) data from questionnaires administered to the expectant mothers of 11,332 children born in a deprived multi-ethnic local authority in England between 2007 and 2011, for a birth cohort study, and (ii) administrative data on children referred to child welfare services. The linkage of these two pre-existing data sets enabled the prospective study of risk factors for child maltreatment. A range of factors captured during the antenatal period were associated with an increased likelihood of subsequent recorded child maltreatment concerns, including: younger maternal age (HR=0.96; p < .001), lower maternal education level (HR=1.36; p < .001), maternal mental illness (HR=1.17; p = .001), maternal smoking in pregnancy (HR=1.69; p < .001), single motherhood (HR=1.41; p = .022), larger family size (HR=1.13; p < .001), multiple deprivation (HR=1.01; p = .011), social housing (HR=1.72; p < .001), paternal unemployment (HR=1.79; p < .001), and the receipt of means-tested welfare benefits (HR=1.43; p < .001). A greater total number of risk factors during pregnancy also increased the risk of subsequent maltreatment concerns (HR=1.45; p < .001). The identification of multiple risk factors in this study supports claims that single targeted interventions are unlikely to be successful in preventing or reducing child maltreatment due to its multifactorial nature, and that multidimensional interventions are required.
Sections du résumé
BACKGROUND
Understanding the risk factors for child maltreatment is critical to efforts to reduce its prevalence.
OBJECTIVE
This study investigated the association between characteristics and circumstances of mothers during pregnancy and the subsequent identification of concerns about child maltreatment.
PARTICIPANTS AND SETTING
The study drew on two data sets: (i) data from questionnaires administered to the expectant mothers of 11,332 children born in a deprived multi-ethnic local authority in England between 2007 and 2011, for a birth cohort study, and (ii) administrative data on children referred to child welfare services.
METHODS
The linkage of these two pre-existing data sets enabled the prospective study of risk factors for child maltreatment.
RESULTS
A range of factors captured during the antenatal period were associated with an increased likelihood of subsequent recorded child maltreatment concerns, including: younger maternal age (HR=0.96; p < .001), lower maternal education level (HR=1.36; p < .001), maternal mental illness (HR=1.17; p = .001), maternal smoking in pregnancy (HR=1.69; p < .001), single motherhood (HR=1.41; p = .022), larger family size (HR=1.13; p < .001), multiple deprivation (HR=1.01; p = .011), social housing (HR=1.72; p < .001), paternal unemployment (HR=1.79; p < .001), and the receipt of means-tested welfare benefits (HR=1.43; p < .001). A greater total number of risk factors during pregnancy also increased the risk of subsequent maltreatment concerns (HR=1.45; p < .001).
CONCLUSIONS
The identification of multiple risk factors in this study supports claims that single targeted interventions are unlikely to be successful in preventing or reducing child maltreatment due to its multifactorial nature, and that multidimensional interventions are required.
Identifiants
pubmed: 32590228
pii: S0145-2134(20)30260-X
doi: 10.1016/j.chiabu.2020.104605
pii:
doi:
Types de publication
Journal Article
Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't
Langues
eng
Sous-ensembles de citation
IM
Pagination
104605Subventions
Organisme : Medical Research Council
ID : MR/N024397/1
Pays : United Kingdom
Informations de copyright
Copyright © 2020 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.