Speaker
Description
Background
Child abuse affects millions of children world-wide with long-lasting health consequences. Preventing repeated child abuse have the impact to prevent mental illness throughout lifetime. Parenting programs based on social learning theory are an evidence-based prevention strategy. However, effects often diminish over time and few trials have assessed effects over more than one year, particularly for families where child abuse is suspected. This study assessed effects of a parent training program intended to be offered early after a child abuse report in a non-stigmatizing way (the Safer Kids program) across 2.5 years.
Methods
Families (N = 112) were randomized to Safer Kids or intervention as usual in Swedish child welfare services. Self-rated measurements on the risk for child abuse and child well-being were collected, as well as official reports of child abuse.
Findings
Although the proportion of families reported again (18% vs 25%) were not statistically different between groups, families receiving Safer Kids had fewer number of child abuse reports at 2.5 year follow-up. There was also a tendency on the self-rated risk for child abuse and a significant group difference for child well-being favoring Safer Kids. Safer Kids had high completion rates (98%) and strong satisfaction. Additionally, 25 of 26 sites had continued using the program.
Interpretation
A brief, early, non-accusatory parenting program showed promise in preventing the risk for further child abuse and maintaining improvements in child well-being. Without long-term follow-up, which is rare in the field, preventive effects would have gone unnoticed. The study points to the potential impact of reducing time from report to intervention in child abuse prevention.
| Conflict of interest | The authors have no conflicts of interest to disclose. |
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