Objective: Neglect is few allegations compared to physical abuse in Japan. This study aimed to examine co-occurred situations of physical abuse and neglect to understand awakening factors for neglect, using nationwide survey for Child Guidance Center (CGC; similar to Child Protection Service).
Methods: The survey examined all allegations during April to May in 2013 from 207 CGCs. There were 7,434 substantiated cases of child abuse and neglect among 11,257 allegations. This study extracted children who were only physically abused (abbreviated as PA) and children who were physically abused and also neglected (abbreviated as PAN). Multivariable logistic regression was performed to examine factors related to neglect among physically abused children.
Results: There were 1,509 children with PA and 201 children with PAN. In bivariate analysis, children with PAN were significantly more female (p=0.033), more severely abused (p<0.001), fewer living with biological father (p=0.021), having more siblings (p=0.0002), and more living with financial difficulty (p<0.001) compared to children with PA. In multivariable logistic regression, children with PAN indicated longer duration of child abuse (Odds ratio (OR), 95% confidence interval (95% CI): 5.63, 2.62-12.1), mental delay (OR, 95%CI: 3.43, 1.52-7.73), financial difficulty (OR, 95%CI: 3.28, 1.44-7.50), discord with other family members (OR, 95%CI: 7.68, 2.92-20.2), isolation from neighbors, friends, or other families (OR, 95%CI: 2.46, 1.004-6.04), and poor living environment (OR, 95%CI: 5.25, 1.37-20.1).
Discussion: Abusers living with difficult circumstances such as financial difficulty and isolation from others expressed physical abuse and neglect toward their children. In case of detecting physical abuse, it is better to consider the possibilities for child to be neglected concurrently in these difficult situations of families.
Systems and workforce related responses to allegations of abuse and neglect
