Methodological challenges in measuring child maltreatment

• Published in: Child abuse & neglect Vol. 34; no. 1; pp. 70 - 79
• Main Authors: Fallon, Barbara, Trocmé, Nico, Fluke, John, MacLaurin, Bruce, Tonmyr, Lil, Yuan, Ying-Ying
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: England Elsevier Ltd 01-01-2010; Elsevier; Elsevier Science Ltd
• Subjects: Administrative data; Canada; Canadian incidence study; Child; Child Abuse; Child abuse & neglect; Child Abuse - classification; Child Abuse - diagnosis; Child Abuse - prevention & control; Child Abuse - statistics & numerical data; Child maltreatment; Child Neglect; Child protection; Child Welfare; Child Welfare - statistics & numerical data; Comparative analysis; Cross-Cultural Comparison; Cross-Sectional Studies; Data Collection; Data Collection - statistics & numerical data; Data Interpretation, Statistical; Definitional issues; Developing Countries; Humans; Incidence; Mandatory Reporting; Measurement; Methodological Problems; Methodology; National incidence study; NCANDS; Needs Assessment; North America; Pediatrics; Policy Analysis; Population Surveillance; Psychiatry; Research - statistics & numerical data; Research Methodology; Surveillance; Surveillance systems; Surveys; United States; United States of America; Victims of Crime; Canada; United States; North America; Measurement; Child protection; Canadian incidence study; Methodology; Administrative data; NCANDS; Definitional issues; Child maltreatment; National incidence study
• ISSN: 0145-2134; 1873-7757
• DOI: 10.1016/j.chiabu.2009.08.008

Abstract Objective This article reviewed the different surveillance systems used to monitor the extent of reported child maltreatment in North America. Methods Key measurement and definitional differences between the surveillance systems are detailed and their potential impact on the measurement of the rate of victimization. The infrastructure requirements, quality of information, timely access to data and the usefulness for child welfare policy are compared and contrasted and a summary table of the type of information by each system is presented. Results Two studies collect data regarding the extent and nature of child maltreatment using survey methodology reported to professionals: the United States National Incidence Study of Child Abuse and Neglect (NIS) and the Canadian Incidence Study of Reported Child Abuse and Neglect (CIS), and the United States National Child Abuse and Neglect Data System (NCANDS) uses administrative data methods to collect annual case-level and state data. Practice implications The purpose of this comparison is to assist researchers and policy analysts with interpreting data from these studies as well as to help officials from other countries in developing surveillance systems that are appropriately adapted to their needs.