Methodological challenges in measuring child maltreatment.
OBJECTIVE
This article reviewed the different surveillance systems used to monitor the extent of reported child maltreatment in North America.


METHODS
Key measurement and definitional differences between the surveillance systems are detailed and their potential impact on the measurement of the rate of victimization. The infrastructure requirements, quality of information, timely access to data and the usefulness for child welfare policy are compared and contrasted and a summary table of the type of information by each system is presented.


RESULTS
Two studies collect data regarding the extent and nature of child maltreatment using survey methodology reported to professionals: the United States National Incidence Study of Child Abuse and Neglect (NIS) and the Canadian Incidence Study of Reported Child Abuse and Neglect (CIS), and the United States National Child Abuse and Neglect Data System (NCANDS) uses administrative data methods to collect annual case-level and state data.


CONCLUSIONS
The purpose of this comparison is to assist researchers and policy analysts with interpreting data from these studies as well as to help officials from other countries in developing surveillance systems that are appropriately adapted to their needs.
Fallon
Barbara
B
Factor-Inwentash Faculty of Social Work, University of Toronto, Canada.
Trocmé
Nico
N
Fluke
John
J
MacLaurin
Bruce
B
Tonmyr
Lil
L
Yuan
Ying-Ying
YY
D002170:Canada; D002648:Child; D002649:Child Abuse / Q000145:classification / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000517:prevention & control / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D002669:Child Welfare / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D003431:Cross-Cultural Comparison; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D003625:Data Collection / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D003627:Data Interpretation, Statistical; D006801:Humans; D015994:Incidence; D019221:Mandatory Reporting; D020380:Needs Assessment; D011159:Population Surveillance; D012106:Research / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D014481:United States