1. Objectifs

Intentions :
« To present key findings from the Canadian Incidence Study of Reported Child Maltreatment (CIS) in sufficient detail to provide a basis for international comparisons in terms of forms and severity of maltreatment and the age and sex of victims. » (p. 1427)

2. Méthode

Échantillon/Matériau :
« A survey conducted in a random sample of 51 child welfare service areas across Canada tracked child maltreatment investigations […] produced a national sample of 7,672 child maltreatment investigations. Information was collected directly from investigating workers on child and family background, perpetrator characteristics, severity and types of maltreatment and service and court outcomes of investigations. » (p. 1427)

Instruments :
« Incidence estimates were calculated by applying annualization and regionalization weights that reflect the sampling strategy used (see Trocmé et al., 2001a, 2001b for details of weighting procedures). Variance estimates that take into consideration the stratified cluster sampling design were calculated using the replicate weights method with the WesVar PC JKn jacknife procedure (Lehtonen & Pahkinen, 1995; Westat, 2000). » (p. 1430)

Type de traitement des données :
Analyse statistique

3. Résumé

« The Canadian Incidence Study of Reported Child Abuse and Neglect (CIS) is the first Canadian study designed to examine the scope and characteristics of reported child abuse and neglect across Canada and to monitor the short-term outcomes of these investigations, including substantiation, placement, child welfare court and criminal charges. This paper briefly describes the structure of child welfare services in Canada, summarizes the study methodology, presents key findings and considers these in comparison to child protection investigation statistics in the United States and Australia. » (p. 1428) « Forty-five percent of investigations were substantiated and in a further 22% of investigations maltreatment remained suspected. Primary reasons for investigation were physical abuse (31%), sexual abuse (11%), neglect (40%), and emotional maltreatment (19%). A larger proportion of physical abuse cases are isolated incidents involving older children and are more likely to lead to injuries. The CIS provides much needed information for developing a better understanding of the profile and needs of children and families investigated by child welfare authorities in Canada. The CIS provides much needed information for developing a better understanding of the profile and needs of children and families investigated by child welfare authorities in Canada. The study also serves as a point from which international comparisons can be made. » (p. 1427)