Antenatal factors associated with recorded maltreatment and admission to care

This study aimed to examine what factors, present at the antenatal stage, are associated with children subsequently having a record of maltreatment or being placed in care due to maltreatment. The study was funded by the... [ view full abstract ]

This study aimed to examine what factors, present at the antenatal stage, are associated with children subsequently having a record of maltreatment or being placed in care due to maltreatment. The study was funded by the UK’s main social research council. Child maltreatment is known to be associated with several factors including deprivation, domestic violence and parental substance misuse, however little is known about the complex relationship between these variables. Furthermore, the majority of studies in child welfare research use cross-sectional designs, due to difficulties in collecting data on children and their families before they come into contact with the child protection system.

Administrative data on children referred to children’s social care services was linked to baseline data from a birth cohort study. This provided a unique opportunity to examine mothers’ circumstances prior to their children becoming involved with the child protection system. Comparisons were made between the family characteristics of children in the birth cohort who subsequently had a record of maltreatment, with those of the children who did not. Similar comparisons were made between children who had entered care due to maltreatment and those who had not.

Several indicators of socio-economic status, captured at the antenatal stage, were found to indicate a higher risk of subsequent recorded maltreatment. These included housing tenure, qualification level and employment status. Other important risk factors were marital and cohabitation status, country of birth and mother’s mental health. Meanwhile, mother’s ethnic group was associated with children being admitted to care due to maltreatment. 

This paper presents important new findings on the factors evident at the antenatal stage which indicate a higher risk of subsequent abuse or neglect. These findings will advance scientific understanding of risk and protective factors in relation to child maltreatment and inform future social care interventions with children and families.