Verheyden C, Van Dooren E, Van Holen F, Stroobants T, Vanderfaeillie J. Child abuse and neglect in Brussels during the COVID-19-lockdown.
CHILD ABUSE & NEGLECT 2022;
134:105903. [PMID:
36179383 PMCID:
PMC9492504 DOI:
10.1016/j.chiabu.2022.105903]
[Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/25/2022] [Revised: 09/15/2022] [Accepted: 09/18/2022] [Indexed: 06/16/2023]
Abstract
BACKGROUND
It is likely that the circumstances during the COVID-19-lockdown in Belgium increased the incidence and prevalence of child abuse and neglect (CAN) due to exacerbated risk factors and new COVID-19-related stressors. However, traditional reporters had less contact with children which could lead to undetected cases of CAN.
OBJECTIVE
Gain insight into the number and profile of CAN reports filed to the Brussels Confidential Center of Child Abuse and Neglect (CCCAN) during the COVID-19-lockdown.
PARTICIPANTS AND SETTING
A dataset comprising 536 CAN reports from periods before (N = 442) and during the lockdown (N = 94).
METHODS
Characteristics about the report, reporter, victim and his/her family, perpetrator(s) and the trajectory with the CCCAN were registered. The number and characteristics of reports during the lockdown were compared to those of reports before the lockdown.
RESULTS
The number of advisory questions (p = .506, d = .377) and allegations (p = .095, d = 1.206) remained unchanged. During the lockdown, the risk assessment of advisory questions was higher (p = .011, d = .280), they evolved more into social exigency investigations (p < .001, φ = .246) and were referred more often to judicial authorities (p = .010, φ = .163). Allegations were filed more often by the helpline, police and judicial authorities (p < .001, φ = .590) during the lockdown and involved more Dutch-speaking (p = .016, φ = .166) victims.
CONCLUSIONS
The number of CAN reports remained the same during the lockdown but their profile changed.
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