Abstract
This article describes the methodology of the first Canada-wide study of the incidence and characteristics of reported child abuse and neglect. Child welfare investigators from a random sample of 51 child welfare service areas completed a three-page survey form describing the results of 7,672 child maltreatment reports received during the months of October to December 1998. The study documented a 90% participation rate and a 95% item completion rate. An estimated 135,571 child maltreatment investigations were completed, a rate of 21.52 investigated children per 1,000 children in Canada in 1998. The Canadian Incidence Study of Reported Child Abuse and Neglect is a rich database that will provide researchers with important contextual information on reported child maltreatment in Canada and a comprehensive source of information on factors associated with key service decisions made by child welfare investigators.
Résumé
Cet article présente la méthode de la première étude pancanadienne de l’incidence et des caractéristiques des rapports de mauvais traitements et de négligence envers les enfants. Des enquêteurs de 51 secteurs de service de protection de l’enfance sélectionnés au hasard ont décrit, dans un questionnaire de trois pages, les résultats de 7 672 rapports de violence envers les enfants présentés entre octobre et décembre 1998. Le taux de participation était de 90 %, et le taux de réponse, de 95 %. En 1998 au Canada, on aurait fait enquête sur 135 571 cas de violence envers les enfants, soit 21,52 enquêtes pour 1 000 enfants. Cette étude constitue une riche base de données qui offre d’importants renseignements contextuels sur les cas de violence envers les enfants signalés au Canada, ainsi qu’une source exhaustive d’information sur les facteurs associés aux décisions prises par les services de protection.
Footnotes
Funding for this study was provided by Health Canada, the governments of Québec, Ontario, British Columbia and Newfoundland, and the Bell Canada Child Welfare Research Unit.
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