Abstract:
Background: The most effective way to provide support to caregivers with infants in order to promote good
health, social, emotional and developmental outcomes is the subject of numerous debates in the literature. In
Canada, each province adopts a different approach which range from universal to targeted programs. Nonetheless,
each year a group of vulnerable infants is identified to the child welfare system with concerns about their wellbeing and safety. This study examines maltreatment-related investigations in Canada involving children under the
age of one year to identify which factors determine service provision at the conclusion of the investigation.
Methods: A secondary analysis of the Canadian Incidence Study of Reported Child Abuse and Neglect CIS-2008
(PHAC, 2010) dataset was conducted. Multivariate analyses were conducted to understand the profile of
investigations involving infants (n=1,203) and which predictors were significant in the decision to transfer a case to
ongoing services at the conclusion of the investigation. Logistic Regression and Classification and Regression Trees
(CART) were conducted to examine the relationship between the outcome and predictors.
Results: The results suggest that there are three main sources that refer infants to the Canadian child welfare
system: hospital, police, and non-professionals. Infant maltreatment-related investigations involve young caregivers
who struggle with poverty, single-parenthood, drug/solvent and alcohol abuse, mental health issues, lack of social
supports, and intimate partner violence. Across the three referral sources, primary caregiver risk factors are the
strongest predictor of the decision to transfer a case to ongoing services.
Conclusions: Multivariate analyses indicate that the presence of infant concerns does not predict ongoing service
provision, except when the infant is identified with positive toxicology at birth. The opportunity for early
intervention and the need to tailor interventions for specific caregiver risk factors is discussed.