Child maltreatment: international perspectives

Abstract

The purpose of this literature review was to explore definitions, incidence, and management of child maltreatment across cultures. Articles written in the English language published from 1962 to 1991 were reviewed to answer the following questions: (1) What role does cross-cultural variability play in defining child maltreatment? (2) What is the incidence of maltreatment in developed and developing countries across continents? (3) What measures have been instituted by countries to prevent and manage child maltreatment? Cross-cultural information was found to be limited. Child rearing attitudes had an impact on the identification, prevention, and management of maltreatment across nations.

PIP: This literature review relied on data from a MEDLINE search of articles on child abuse published in English from 1962 to August 1991. The literature was examined to determine 1) the role of cross-cultural variability in defining child maltreatment, 2) the incidence of maltreatment in developed and developing countries across continents, and 3) the measures instituted to prevent and manage child abuse. In Africa, information was available for Nigeria and Tunisia. In Asia, data were available Hong Kong, Japan, Jordan, Korea, and the Philippines. Reports from the Australian region covered New South Wales, South Australia and New Zealand, and Victoria. Data from Europe related to France, Great Britain, and The Netherlands. Scandinavia was represented by studies from Denmark, Finland, and Sweden. Canada and the US each yielded studies, and South America was represented in this review by Brazil. The authors concluded that awareness of child maltreatment varies from society to society but more and more countries are becoming concerned about this phenomenon. Data on incidence of child abuse are lacking in many countries, but many researchers in diverse cultures are attempting to fill in the gap. Prevention and management strategies are as diverse as the countries which generate them. Thus, cultural attitudes and behaviors impact on the identification, prevention, and management of maltreatment. Comparable cross-cultural definitions of child maltreatment are needed, with the parameters of acceptable behavior drawn. Criteria for determining the occurrence of child abuse must also be determined.