title: [Increasing number of child abuse cases in Sweden--in accordance with reality?].
abstract: The number of police reports on child assault shows an increasing trend during the last two decades in Sweden. The purpose of this article is to present possible explanations. Increased awareness of child abuse, legislative reforms, changes in attitudes toward corporal punishment and violence in general, and changed routines within schools can explain the increasing trend in police reporting. An actual increase in the rate of child abuse is possible but less likely. Reports of increasingly violent behavior among young people must be taken seriously.
authors.affiliation: Göteborgs universitet. christian.nilsson@medstud.gu.se
authors.forename: C
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Nilsson
authors.forename: K
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Horgby
authors.forename: M P
authors.initials: MP
authors.lastname: Borres
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D002648:Child; D002649:Child Abuse / Q000331:legislation & jurisprudence / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D002651:Child Advocacy; D005554:Forensic Medicine / Q000331:legislation & jurisprudence / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D005555:Forensic Psychiatry / Q000331:legislation & jurisprudence / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D006801:Humans; D010290:Parents / Q000523:psychology; D016495:Police; D011639:Public Opinion; D012949:Social Work, Psychiatric; D012959:Socioeconomic Factors; D013548:Sweden / Q000453:epidemiology; D014754:Violence