Conceptual frameworks for programs addressing violence against children: a scoping review.

Area of Science:

• Public Health
• Child Development
• Healthcare Interventions

Background:

• Violence against children is a significant public health issue requiring effective primary healthcare interventions.
• Understanding the conceptual frameworks of these programs is crucial for optimizing their impact.
• Primary healthcare settings offer a vital opportunity to address and prevent violence against children.

Purpose of the Study:

• To map the conceptual frameworks underpinning programs designed to address violence against children within primary healthcare settings.
• To identify common intervention strategies employed in these programs.
• To assess the clarity and application of theoretical underpinnings in program design.

Main Methods:

• A comprehensive scoping review was conducted, adhering to Joanna Briggs Institute methodological guidelines.
• Data management and analysis were facilitated by reference manager and qualitative analysis software.
• An initial pool of 1,346 studies was screened, resulting in a final sample of 24 relevant studies.

Main Results:

• Three primary strategic actions were identified: Home Visitation, addressing Children Exposed to Violence, and Parenting Development.
• The majority of identified programs concentrated on the intervention level.
• Critically, none of the analyzed studies explicitly detailed the conceptual frameworks guiding their program development.

Conclusions:

• The mapped programs demonstrate strong structural components and are vital for combating domestic violence against children.
• A prevalent multi-causal approach was adopted to understand the health-disease process related to violence.
• However, the application of these conceptual frameworks appeared limited in fully addressing the complexities and contradictions inherent in violence against children.