Prediction and Prevention of Child Abuse and Neglect

Examined was the feasibility of predicting the potential for abnormal child rearing practices, including child abuse and neglect among 350 mothers. Through interviews, questionnaires, and observations during labor, delivery and the postpartum period, 100 mothers were identified as at high risk for abnormal parenting procedures. Ss were then randomly divided into a High-Risk Intervene (HRI) group and a High-Risk Nonintervene (HRN) group. HRI Ss received comprehensive pediatric followup by a physician or other health personnel, while HRN Ss received routine care. Evaluations were completed on 25 families in each group and a control group when the children were approximately 2 years old. Among results were that perinatal screening procedures successfully identified a high risk group; 5 Ss in the HRN group required hospitalization for serious injuries thought to be secondary to abnormal parenting procedures; and the most accurate predictive information was provided by labor-delivery observations and nursery observations and interveiws. (Author/CL)