Child maltreatment shows no signs of significant decrease

New research published in The Lancet (9 December 2011) shows no consistent decrease in the maltreatment of children across several countries over the last two decades. Despite years of policy initiatives designed to achieve it, research revealed by a collaboration between Warwick Medical School and University College London Institute of Child Health (ICH) concludes that despite numerous government policy initiatives designed to achieve a reduction in child maltreatment, none has proved successful. The study used three types of child maltreatment indicators; violent deaths in children, injuries related to maltreatment, and involvement with child protection agencies. The indicators were gathered from health and child protection agencies, and compared trends in children under 11 across six states and countries, England, Sweden, New Zealand, Western Australia, Manitoba (Canada) and the USA. The study found large variations between the countries and states in the frequency of involvement with child protection agencies, but little difference between the rates of maltreatment-related injury These broad findings however mask individual variations within and between countries. Previous research from the University of Warwick has demonstrated a decrease in violent deaths of infants and children in the UK over a similar time period. Peter Sidebotham, from Warwick Medical School and co-author of the paper, explained: "Currently, in the UK, at least 50 children and young people die each year as a result of child maltreatment and many more suffer ongoing abuse or neglect within their homes.