Authors:
Hughes K, Bellis M, Maclean M, Wood S, Mikton C
Authors notes:
In: European Report on Preventing Child Maltreatment. Copenhagen: World Health Organisation; 2013. p. 61-82
Keywords:
Child maltreatment, interventions, young people, evidence base
Abstract:
Child maltreatment and the devastating impacts it has on young people throughout their lives can be prevented.
Protecting children from abuse is a core function of governments, and child protection systems in the European Region are increasingly operating in holistic contexts that focus on prevention and early identification of risks and provision of specialist services for vulnerable children and their families.
Numerous interventions to prevent child maltreatment are now being implemented in European settings, with some being tested for effectiveness.
In general, however, the evidence base on the effectiveness of interventions is scarce.
Most studies focus on risk factors, such as parental stress and parenting practices, and few use actual child maltreatment outcomes.
Although the European evidence base is growing, most research has been conducted in the United States.
Existing studies nevertheless provide muchinformation on the types of interventions that show promise in preventing child maltreatment and associated risks.