Child maltreatment: evidence review for newly arriving immigrants and refugees
Date
2011
Journal Title
Journal ISSN
Volume Title
Publisher
Collaboration for Immigrant and Refugee Health, Appendix 12
Abstract
Background: Child maltreatment is a significant worldwide public health problem. We conducted an evidence review on the screening, prevention, and treatment primary care practitioners can offer to prevent or reduce morbidity and/or mortality from child maltreatment in newly arriving immigrants and refugees. We also examined culturally specific clinical and equity issues. Methods: Using the GRADE approach, we systematically assessed evidence on screening, prevention, and intervention for child maltreatment. We then examined the benefits, harms, applicability, clinical considerations, and implementation issues relevant to recently settled immigrants and refugees. Results: Ethnic minority children in Canada and the United States (US) are over-screened and over-reported for child maltreatment, as compared to general population children. Screening instruments for child maltreatment are based on risk assessment and have unacceptably high false positive rates, which are associated with significant harms because of the risk of mislabeling parents for child maltreatment. Trauma-focused Cognitive Behavioral Therapy and theoretically-driven parenting programs may help reduce maltreatment or alleviate consequences related to it. Nurse home visitation programs with families living in disadvantaged conditions can reduce risk, child injuries, and trauma related to maltreatment and improve child developmental outcomes. Interpretation: Evidence against routine screening for child maltreatment outweigh benefits of screening because of harms from false labeling. Home visitation preventive strategies, however, may be effective for recently-settled immigrant and refugee families who live in high risk conditions and need support. (Author Abstract)
Description
item.page.type
Article
item.page.format
Keywords
immigrants, child abuse, International Resources, Canada, risk factors, prevention, guidelines
Citation
Hassan, G., Thombs, B. D., Rousseau, C., Kirmayer, L. J., Feightner, J., Ueffing, E., & Pottie, K. (2011). Collaboration for Immigrant and Refugee Health, Appendix 12