Canadian Incidence Study of Reported Child Abuse and Neglect: methodology.

Area of Science:

• Child welfare research
• Pediatric public health
• Criminology

Background:

• Child abuse and neglect represent a significant public health concern.
• Previous research lacked comprehensive, Canada-wide data on reported child maltreatment.

Purpose of the Study:

• To establish the methodology for the first national study on the incidence and characteristics of reported child abuse and neglect in Canada.
• To create a comprehensive database for understanding child maltreatment and associated factors.

Main Methods:

• A national survey was administered to child welfare investigators across 51 randomly selected service areas.
• Data were collected on 7,672 child maltreatment reports received between October and December 1998.
• High participation (90%) and item completion (95%) rates were achieved.

Main Results:

• An estimated 135,571 child maltreatment investigations were completed in Canada during the study period.
• The incidence rate was 21.52 investigated children per 1,000 children in Canada in 1998.
• The study captured detailed characteristics of reported cases.

Conclusions:

• The Canadian Incidence Study of Reported Child Abuse and Neglect (CIS) provides a robust dataset on child maltreatment.
• The findings offer critical contextual information for researchers and policymakers.
• The database serves as a comprehensive source for analyzing factors influencing child welfare service decisions.