The effectiveness of interventions to prevent and reduce child maltreatment in high-income countries : an umbrella review

Gautschi, Joel; Lätsch, David

doi:10.1016/j.chiabu.2024.106845

Publication type:	Article in scientific journal
Type of review:	Peer review (publication)
Title:	The effectiveness of interventions to prevent and reduce child maltreatment in high-income countries : an umbrella review
Authors:	Gautschi, Joel Lätsch, David
et. al:	No
DOI:	10.1016/j.chiabu.2024.106845
Published in:	Child Abuse & Neglect
Volume(Issue):	153
Issue:	106845
Issue Date:	18-May-2024
Publisher / Ed. Institution:	Elsevier
ISSN:	0145-2134 1873-7757
Language:	English
Subjects:	Kindesschutz; Child protection; Meta-Analysis; Systematic review; Wirksamkeit; Effectiveness; Child neglect; Child abuse; Kindesvernachlässigung; Kindesmisshandlung; Umbrella review
Subject (DDC):	362.7: Youth services
Abstract:	Background: In recent decades, many interventions targeting the occurrence (primary prevention) or the recurrence (secondary prevention) of child abuse and neglect have been tested. Findings have been synthesized in several meta-analyses and systematic reviews. However, the range of interventions addressed in these studies is very broad, and an integrative assessment of this large spectrum is lacking. Objective: Focusing on high-income countries, we ask (i) what is known about the effectiveness of interventions to prevent or reduce child abuse and neglect and (ii) how robust this evidence is. Methods: A systematic review of systematic reviews, called an umbrella review, was conducted. Ten databases on OvidSP and Web of Science were searched up until April 2023. Narrative synthesis was used to document the publications’ findings. Results: 44 publications were included in the umbrella review. We did not find that any type of intervention had a clear, consistent, and robust track record of preventing or reducing the occurrence of child abuse and neglect. Rather, publications examining the effectiveness of interventions in all areas frequently reported non-existent, small or inconsistent effects. However, positive effects for particular interventions in specific settings did emerge. Research methodologies showed several and often severe problems. Conclusions: We suggest several measures to improve the quality of research and call on practitioners to be persistent in developing more effective interventions.
URI:	https://digitalcollection.zhaw.ch/handle/11475/30728
Fulltext version:	Published version
License (according to publishing contract):	Licence according to publishing contract
Departement:	Social Work
Organisational Unit:	Institute of Childhood, Youth and Family (IKJF)
Published as part of the ZHAW project:	Wirksamkeit von Interventionen zur Prävention von Kindesmisshandlung und -vernachlässigung
Appears in collections:	Publikationen Soziale Arbeit

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Gautschi, J., & Lätsch, D. (2024). The effectiveness of interventions to prevent and reduce child maltreatment in high-income countries : an umbrella review. Child Abuse & Neglect, 153(106845). https://doi.org/10.1016/j.chiabu.2024.106845

Gautschi, J. and Lätsch, D. (2024) ‘The effectiveness of interventions to prevent and reduce child maltreatment in high-income countries : an umbrella review’, Child Abuse & Neglect, 153(106845). Available at: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.chiabu.2024.106845.

J. Gautschi and D. Lätsch, “The effectiveness of interventions to prevent and reduce child maltreatment in high-income countries : an umbrella review,” Child Abuse & Neglect, vol. 153, no. 106845, May 2024, doi: 10.1016/j.chiabu.2024.106845.

GAUTSCHI, Joel und David LÄTSCH, 2024. The effectiveness of interventions to prevent and reduce child maltreatment in high-income countries : an umbrella review. Child Abuse & Neglect. 18 Mai 2024. Bd. 153, Nr. 106845. DOI 10.1016/j.chiabu.2024.106845

Gautschi, Joel, and David Lätsch. 2024. “The Effectiveness of Interventions to Prevent and Reduce Child Maltreatment in High-Income Countries : An Umbrella Review.” Child Abuse & Neglect 153 (106845). https://doi.org/10.1016/j.chiabu.2024.106845.

Gautschi, Joel, and David Lätsch. “The Effectiveness of Interventions to Prevent and Reduce Child Maltreatment in High-Income Countries : An Umbrella Review.” Child Abuse & Neglect, vol. 153, no. 106845, May 2024, https://doi.org/10.1016/j.chiabu.2024.106845.