The extent of evidence-based information about child maltreatment fatalities in social science textbooks.
Previous research has established that child welfare workers lack important information about child maltreatment fatalities and risk factors leading to death. Further, training has not been associated with improvements in knowledge. The authors assessed the presence of evidence-based information about child maltreatment fatalities and risk factors for death in 24 social science textbooks about child abuse and neglect or child welfare. The results indicate that basic information, such as definitions and incidence rates of child maltreatment fatalities are routinely included in social science textbooks, but information about child, parent, and household risk factors are not, and that inaccurate information is often included. Implications of the findings are discussed.
a School of Social Work, Bridgewater State University , Bridgewater , Massachusetts , USA.
Emily M
EM
Douglas
Patricia J
PJ
Serino
D002423:Cause of Death; D002648:Child; D002649:Child Abuse / Q000401:mortality* / Q000517:prevention & control; D002669:Child Welfare / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D003479:Curriculum / Q000592:standards; D055317:Evidence-Based Practice / Q000592:standards*; D006801:Humans; D012307:Risk Factors; D012942:Social Sciences / Q000193:education*; D012947:Social Work / Q000193:education*; D013782:Textbooks as Topic