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Death and serious injury from assault of children aged under 5 years in Aotearoa New Zealand : a review of international literature and recent findings Duncanson, Mavis; Smith, Don A. R.; Davies, Emma

By: Duncanson, Mavis.
Contributor(s): Smith, Don A. R | Davies, Emma.
Material type: materialTypeLabelBookPublisher: Wellington, [N.Z.] Children's Commissioner = Manaakitia A Tatou Tamariki 2009Description: electronic document (24 p.).; PDF file (211Kb).Subject(s): CHILDREN AT RISK | CHILDREN | DEMOGRAPHICS | FAMILIES | OFFENDERS | PARENTING | PHYSICAL ABUSE | SOCIOECONOMIC FACTORS | STATISTICS | CHILD HOMICIDE | NEW ZEALAND | PREVENTION | CHILD ABUSEOnline resources: Click here to access online Summary: This review synthesises the findings of international studies to add to the general body of knowledge about death and serious injuries sustained by pre-school aged children. The review aims to make a contribution to reducing rates of abuse and neglect in New Zealand. The key findings of the review are that young children who suffer serious injury or death come from a small group in the population, and from families that have multiple and inter-related risk factors. The children most at risk of death or serious injury from assault are young (risk is highest on the first day of life), with unsupported young mothers who received limited or no antenatal care, living in an environment of family violence and lack of necessities. These children are likely to have previously received attention from health services for injury; children with disabilities are at greater risk. The perpetrator is more likely to be a non-biological parent and to misuse alcohol and other drugs. For a small group of parents serious mental illness is associated with the death or injury of a child through assault. Factors such as a continually crying baby, a severe conflict with the other parent, or impending parental separation often trigger an assault. The authors note that investment in professional development and in multi-agency approaches will be required to attain the best outcomes for children, using both casework and population level approaches to make progress. In addition, the authors suggest that New Zealand's strong base of information (from Child, Youth and Family, Health, Accident Compensation Corporation and coronial systems) would support a comprehensive review of factors associated with serious injury and death from assault, and should be used to best effect.
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This review synthesises the findings of international studies to add to the general body of knowledge about death and serious injuries sustained by pre-school aged children. The review aims to make a contribution to reducing rates of abuse and neglect in New Zealand. The key findings of the review are that young children who suffer serious injury or death come from a small group in the population, and from families that have multiple and inter-related risk factors. The children most at risk of death or serious injury from assault are young (risk is highest on the first day of life), with unsupported young mothers who received limited or no antenatal care, living in an environment of family violence and lack of necessities. These children are likely to have previously received attention from health services for injury; children with disabilities are at greater risk. The perpetrator is more likely to be a non-biological parent and to misuse alcohol and other drugs. For a small group of parents serious mental illness is associated with the death or injury of a child through assault. Factors such as a continually crying baby, a severe conflict with the other parent, or impending parental separation often trigger an assault. The authors note that investment in professional development and in multi-agency approaches will be required to attain the best outcomes for children, using both casework and population level approaches to make progress. In addition, the authors suggest that New Zealand's strong base of information (from Child, Youth and Family, Health, Accident Compensation Corporation and coronial systems) would support a comprehensive review of factors associated with serious injury and death from assault, and should be used to best effect.

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