VIOLENCE AGAINST CHILDREN AND ADOLESCENTS: NOTIFICATION AND ALERT IN TIMES OF PANDEMIC

Reporting of Child Maltreatment During the COVID-19 Pandemic in a Southern State in the United States

OBJECTIVES

COVID-19-related stay-at-home orders (SAHOs) created an immediate physical barrier between children and professionals such as pediatricians and teachers, who are often first to identify and report signs of child maltreatment. Our objective was to determine how the SAHO in a southern state was associated with reports of child maltreatment and whether this association was modified by sociodemographic characteristics.

METHODS

We linked data on reports of child maltreatment from a southern state in the United States from October 1, 2018, through September 30, 2020, to data from the US Census Bureau to obtain data on county-level socioeconomic characteristics. We fit a segmented regression model to evaluate changes in reports before and after the SAHO, March 20, 2020. We evaluated potential disparities by child age, case and allegation severity, and socioeconomic characteristics.

RESULTS

Of 374 885 hotline calls, 276 878 (73.9%) were made before the SAHO and 98 007 (26.1%) after it. Although an immediate decrease in reports of child maltreatment occurred on the day of the SAHO, the rates of reporting within socioeconomic groups started increasing thereafter. While we found no significant change in the overall rate of change in hotline calls after versus before the SAHO (0.23; 95% CI, -0.11 to 0.58), stratified analyses indicate that the rates at which reporting increased varied by education level, health insurance coverage, median annual household income, and unemployment.

CONCLUSIONS

Evaluating these trends is important for policy makers and practitioners to understand how policies enforced during the pandemic influence child maltreatment reporting and how these policies may affect reporting differently across socioeconomic groups.

Sexual violence against children and adolescents in Paraná State: geospatial analysis and main socioeconomic indicators

OBJECTIVE

Child sexual violence is a multidimensional problem of many contemporary societies, affecting people of all sexes, social stratum and age groups. Offenses involving children and adolescents are more serious, given their total or partial dependence on parents and caregivers. Information on child sexual violence in Brazil is found in raw form and without detail. The objective was to compare the information with social and economic data in the state of Paraná.

METHODS

The authors conducted a retrospective study of secondary data from the Notifiable Diseases Information System (SINAN) on cases of sexual violence involving victims aged 0 to 19 years. Results are presented according to notification characteristics. The authors applied exploratory spatial data analysis to assess spatial autocorrelations and investigated relationships by the ordinary least squares regression model.

RESULTS

Between 2017 and 2021, there were 13,403 reports of child sexual violence in Paraná State, Brazil. Most victims (82.8%) were female and aged between 10 and 14 years. The majority of sexual violence cases (67.8%) occurred in the home environment. The highest rates on a population basis were observed in the North Central and Greater Curitiba regions, mainly in cities with higher population density and with higher rates of other types of violence.

CONCLUSION

The results provide data that can promote a broader understanding of the distribution of sexual violence and the state and associated variations. It is expected to improve the provision of care for victims of child sexual violence and assist in strategic planning to prevent future offenses.

Inter(national) recommendations to face violence against women and girls in COVID-19 pandemic

This article is an integral part of the research "Violence in the context of COVID-19: global challenges and vulnerabilities", which proposes a critical reflection on situations of gender-based violence increased by social distancing protocols, required by the COVID-19 pandemic. Based on a 2020 literature survey, we have analyzed recommendations made by researchers and institutions from different countries around the world, with the aim of systematizing and disseminating strategies to deal with this scenario. The material is organized into two thematic areas, namely: gender policies and intersectoral actions; and strategies to face violence against women and children in the health and social work field. The recommendations are focused on the development of actions by States/governments, service networks and society in general. Part of the recommendations suggest increasing or adapting existing surveillance actions and part of them contribute with creative proposals, guiding promotional and preventive actions at an individual and collective level. The adoption of teleassistance, media campaigns raising awareness that violence is unjustifiable and the development of reporting strategies through signs and codes have been reiterated in the literature.

How parents share and limit their child’s access to information about COVID-19: A mixed methods online survey study

This study aimed to understand the role that parents play in sharing or limiting their child's access to information about coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19). A subset of data from an international mixed methods online survey study was analysed to elucidate the findings from Brazil. An online survey, conducted between April and June 2020, gathered closed and open text views from parents of children aged 7-12 years old. Quantitative data were analysed using descriptive statistics. Qualitative open text data were analysed using the three stages of the Bardin content analysis framework: pre-analysis (data organisation and initial full-content reading); exploration of the material (thematic coding to identify major motifs and develop thematic categories) and interpretation (treating the data as significant and valid). The sample consisted of 112 (89%) mothers and 14 (11%) fathers. The analysis of the parents open text resulted in two categories: 'How parents share information with their children about COVID-19' and 'How parents limit information to their children about COVID-19'. Some parents reported adopting an honest and open approach on how they shared information with their children, whilst some parents chose to minimise their child's access to information about the pandemic over concerns of the mortality related to COVID-19.

Violência Autoprovocada no Brasil: Caracterização dos Casos Notificados entre 2009 e 2021

A violência autoprovocada consiste em um problema de saúde pública, devido a sua elevada incidência e prejuízos decorrentes. A notificação dessa conduta ocorre por meio do Sistema de Vigilância de Violências e Acidentes (VIVA), que integra o Sistema de Informação de Agravos de Notificação (SINAN). O objetivo deste estudo foi caracterizar os casos notificados no Brasil a partir dos registros do SINAN correspondentes ao período de 2009 a 2021. Análises descritivas revelaram o crescimento dos registros no Brasil, envolvendo, predominantemente, pessoas do sexo feminino, com idades entre 15 e 29 anos, de cor branca e ensino fundamental incompleto ou médio completo. As agressões ocorreram majoritariamente na própria residência e abarcaram mais de um episódio. Reforça-se a relevância de avaliar as características da violência autoprovocada, de modo a vislumbrar fatores de risco e de proteção associados ao fenômeno para o delineamento de ações e políticas públicas.

Characterization and completeness of notification sheet of violence against the older adults in Niterói-RJ, 2011-2020

OBJECTIVE

to analyze the profile of violence against the elderly and the degree of completeness of event notification forms in Niterói, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil.

METHODS

this was a descriptive study having as its data source violence notification forms held on the Notifiable Health Conditions Information System for the period 2011-2020; analysis of form completeness was performed according to criteria proposed by the Ministry of Health.

RESULTS

of the 486 registered cases, physical violence was the most reported type of violence (48.1%), followed by psychological violence (22.2%) and self-harm (21.4%); the fields with the highest degree of incompleteness were victim's level of schooling (32.8%) and repeat violence (41.5%).

CONCLUSION

despite the increase in notifications in the period, predominantly of physical violence, completeness of some of the form fields continues to be poor, which reinforces the importance of training professionals to improve the reporting process and data quality.

[Public health measures during the COVID-19 pandemic in institutions for the protection of children and adolescents in two departments in ColombiaMedidas de saúde pública em instituições de proteção de crianças e adolescentes em dois departamentos da Colômbia durante a pandemia de COVID-19]

Objective

Analyze facilitating processes, obstacles, and effects of the implementation of non-pharmacological public health measures for the prevention of COVID-19 in child and adolescent protection centers in two departments (Antioquia and La Guajira) in Colombia during the period 2020-2021.

Methods

Mixed methods study with a convergent parallel design in 13 residential child/adolescent protection facilities in Colombia (11 in Antioquia and two in La Guajira). A questionnaire was given to 145 children and adolescents, and 23 interviews were held with persons responsible for the implementation of measures in the national family welfare system.

Results

The implemented non-pharmacological public health measures did not differ by department; the most complex to implement were physical distancing and restriction of family visits.

Conclusions

In centers for the protection of children and adolescents in Antioquia and La Guajira, non-pharmacological public health measures helped mitigate the spread of the virus in environments considered at-risk.

Child Labor in the State of Amazonas: Invisibility of the Notification System

OBJECTIVE

To describe the characteristics of reported cases of child labor in general and to compare official reported child labor data with data on sexual exploitation and occupational accidents involving children and adolescents between 2017 and 2021.

METHODS

Descriptive study based on data from the Notifiable Health Conditions Information System about child labor, work accidents and sexual exploitation of children and adolescents aged between 5 and 17 years. Annual disease notification rates were calculated and grouped by mesoregions of the state of Amazonas.

RESULTS

From 2017 to 2021, there were 312 reports of situations of child labor, being 46.8% involving children and 53.2% involving adolescents. Of these notifications, 20 corresponded to child labor itself, 141 to child and adolescent sexual exploitation, and 151 to work-related accidents involving children and adolescents. The South and Center regions were the ones that most underreported child sexual exploitation as child labor. The Southwest and South mesoregions, on the other hand, were the ones that most underreported work accidents involving children and adolescents as child labor.

CONCLUSION

Child labor in Amazonas basically stems from sexual exploitation and, even though it is underreported, it is frequent, although uneven between regions. Confronting the problem in the state necessarily involves improving the information system in order to acknowledge the actual dimension of the problem and then define intervention measures and logistics.

The relationship between aggressive behaviors of preschool children and the violence against Iranian women in the COVID-19 pandemic

BACKGROUND

During epidemics, supports are limited and individual and collective vulnerabilities as well as domestic violence are increased. Therefore, various groups in society, especially children and their mothers, are extremely vulnerable. This study aimed to assess the relationship between aggressive behaviors of preschool children and the violence against Iranian women during the COVID-19 pandemic.

METHODS

This descriptive-correlational study was conducted in October-November 2020. Stratified random sampling was performed among preschool children in Kerman. Data were collected using the Violence toward Women Inventory and the Aggression scale for preschoolers Scale. Data were analyzed using SPSS25, ANOVA, independent t-test, and Pearson correlation test.

RESULTS

The results showed that the total mean scores of violence against women and preschoolers' aggression were 54.43 ± 10.6 and 88.44 ± 6.5, respectively. The results showed a statistically significant difference in aggressive behaviors of preschool children, mother's job, number of children, mother's education, income, and age. A positive and significant relationship was also found between the subscales of violence against women and aggression in preschool children.

CONCLUSIONS

The results showed a positive and significant relationship between violence against women and aggression of preschool children. Therefore, it is recommended that parents identify and eliminate the risk factors for domestic violence during the COVID-19 in order to protect their children. Parents also must learn coping strategies for stress and resilience in the epidemic crises.

One year into COVID-19: What have we learned about child maltreatment reports and child protective service responses?

BACKGROUND

A year has passed since COVID-19 began disrupting systems. Although children are not considered a risk population for the virus, there is accumulating knowledge regarding children's escalating risk for maltreatment during the pandemic.

OBJECTIVE

The current study is part of a larger initiative using an international platform to examine child maltreatment (CM) reports and child protective service (CPS) responses in various countries. The first data collection, which included a comparison between eight countries after the pandemic's first wave (March-June 2020), illustrated a worrisome picture regarding children's wellbeing. The current study presents the second wave of data across 12 regions via population data (Australia [New South Wales], Brazil, United States [California, Pennsylvania], Colombia, England, Germany, Israel, Japan, Canada [Ontario, Quebec], South Africa).

METHOD

Regional information was gathered, including demographics, economic situation, and CPS responses to COVID-19. A descriptive analysis was conducted to provide an overview of the phenomenon.

RESULTS

Across all of the countries, COVID-19 had a substantial negative impact on the operation of CPSs and the children and families they serve by disrupting in-person services. One year into the COVID-19 pandemic, new reports of CM varied across the regions.¹ In some, the impact of COVID-19 on CPS was low to moderate, while in others, more significant changes created multiple challenges for CPS services.

CONCLUSIONS

COVID-19 created a barrier for CPS to access and protect children. The dramatic variance between the regions demonstrated how social, economic and structural contexts impact both CM reports and CPS responses.

The mental health of children and young people living in big cities in a revolving postpandemic world

PURPOSE OF REVIEW

The world's population is increasingly urban, with most children and young people growing up and living in cities. Evidence suggests that urbanicity is linked to an increased risk for the development of mental health disorders. Rather than an accumulation of risk factors, urbanization is a complex process that profoundly structures living conditions. In this sense, it is timely to discuss what are the social and structural determinants of mental health of children and young people in such settings.

RECENT FINDINGS

Three domains of determinants of mental health were selected for discussion: economics and living conditions, crime and violence, and urban layouts. For each, we debated realities faced by urban children and young people, providing an overview of recent evidence on implications for mental disorders and well being. We also discuss the potential impacts of the covid-19 pandemic on each domain, as well as recommendations for future action.

SUMMARY

Structural factors are of major relevance for the mental health of children and young people living in cities. The agenda of mental health promotion and prevention must include whole-of-society interventions aimed at improving living conditions, including economic and social capital, violence prevention and urbanistic planning.

Trabalho infantil no estado do Amazonas: a invisibilidade do sistema de notificação

RESUMO Objetivo: Descrever as características dos casos notificados de trabalho infantil em geral e comparar dados oficiais notificados de trabalho infantil com dados de exploração sexual e acidentes de trabalho envolvendo crianças e adolescentes entre 2017 e 2021. Métodos: Estudo descritivo com base nos dados do Sistema de Informação de Agravos de Notificação sobre trabalho infantil, acidente de trabalho e exploração sexual de crianças e adolescentes com idades entre 5 e 17 anos. Foram calculadas taxas de notificação anuais dos agravos e agregadas por mesorregião do estado do Amazonas. Resultados: No período de 2017 a 2021, houve 312 notificações de situações envolvendo trabalho infantil, sendo 46,8% com crianças e 53,2% com adolescentes. Dessas notificações, 20 correspondiam ao trabalho infantil propriamente dito, 141 de exploração sexual infantojuvenil e 151 casos de acidente de trabalho envolvendo crianças e adolescentes. As mesorregiões sul e centro foram as que mais subnotificaram exploração sexual infantojuvenil como trabalho infantil. Já as mesorregiões sudoeste e sul foram as que mais sub-registraram acidentes de trabalho envolvendo crianças e adolescentes como trabalho infantil. Conclusão: O trabalho infantil no Amazonas decorre basicamente de exploração sexual e, mesmo subnotificado, é de ocorrência frequente, porém desigual entre as regiões. O enfrentamento do agravo no estado passa, obrigatoriamente, pelo aperfeiçoamento do sistema de informação a fim conhecer a real dimensão do problema para, então, definir medidas e logística de intervenção.

Child Maltreatment During the COVID-19 Pandemic: A Systematic Rapid Review

The present study is systematic rapid review on the nature of the relationship between the COVID-19 pandemic and child maltreatment. Database searches on December 28, 2020, identified 234 unique citations; 12 were ultimately included in our analysis. Included articles measured child maltreatment inclusive of physical, psychological, and sexual abuse, and child neglect during the COVID-19 pandemic. Compared with the prepandemic period, 5 articles found an increase in child maltreatment, 6 articles found a decrease, and 1 study found no difference. There existed variation in geography of study location, age of child maltreatment victims, and types of child maltreatment assessed.

Epidemiological Study of Violence against Children and Its Increase during the COVID-19 Pandemic

The aim of this study was to identify the epidemiological profiles of violence against children, victims, and their aggressors, and their correlations between socioeconomic and demographic factors analyzed before and during the COVID-19 pandemic. This was a cross-sectional, retrospective observational study based on a review of Individual Notification Forms from the Information System for Notifiable Diseases, including child victims of violence, under 18 years, assisted by a pediatric emergency service in Brazil, from 2016–2020. Data were stratified, then statistical analysis was performed using the two-proportion equality test and the Chi-square test, with p < 0.05 and a 95% confidence interval. A total of 609 notifications were analyzed and a prevalence of sexual violence (63.2%) was reported. The prevalent profile of victim was female (76.7%), aged between 2–9 years (38.1%) and 14–18 years (35.6%). The violence occurs in the victim’s home (58.9%). The prevalent profile of perpetrator was male (82.4%), young adolescent (59.2%), living as family (64%), mainly the parents (18.4%). No correlation was found between the classified socioeconomic and demographic variables and violence. There was an increase in notifications during the COVID-19 pandemic, compared to the same period in the previous year; self-harm was reported in 59.7% of physical violence in 2020. Prevalence of sexual violence was higher for females, aged between 2–9 and 14–18 years, victimized in their homes, by male offenders, living as family, mainly by their parents. No association was found between child violence and the socioeconomic and demographic.

Diretrizes brasileiras e portuguesas de proteção à criança vulnerável à violência na pandemia de COVID-19

Resumo Objetivo identificar e analisar medidas de proteção à criança/adolescente vulnerável à violência na epidemia de COVID-19 no Brasil e em Portugal. Método implementou-se a pesquisa documental de diretrizes governamentais expedidas entre março e setembro de 2020. A análise hermenêutica fundamentou-se nos preceitos da vulnerabilidade em saúde e da defesa do melhor interesse de crianças/adolescentes. Resultados recomendaram-se ações articuladas de apoio e parcerias nacionais, locais e interinstitucionais; atuação multiprofissional, intra/intersetorial como medidas de proteção à criança/adolescente vulneráveis à violência intrafamiliar. Destacam-se o estímulo a notificação, investigação, intervenção e acompanhamento de casos. Constatam-se investimentos dos países na ampliação de canais de teleatendimento e estímulo à denúncias pela sociedade e redes sociais. Contudo, há indícios de poucos registros de casos, justificado pelas campanhas publicitárias em Portugal que incentivaram denúncias aos órgãos responsáveis. A proteção à renda e ao trabalho dos provedores da família durante o isolamento social e momento de suspensão das aulas presenciais teve a intenção de protegê-los da insegurança alimentar e do contágio da doença. Conclusão documentos determinaram ações para instituições, profissionais de saúde, familiares e sociedade no enfrentamento da violência intrafamiliar. Na pandemia de COVID-19, é dever do Estado seguir protegendo o direito à vida e à dignidade da criança e adolescente.