Clinical care of childhood sexual abuse: a systematic review and critical appraisal of guidelines from European countries.

Background: The clinical management of Child sexual abuse (CSA) demands specialised skills from healthcare professionals due to its sensitivity, legal implications, and serious physical health and mental health effects. Standardised, comprehensive clinical practice guidelines (CPGs) may be pivotal. In this systematic review, we examined existing CSA national CPGs (NCPGs) from European countries to assess their quality and reporting.

Impact of COVID-19 pandemic on characteristics, extent and trends in child maltreatment in 34 Euro-CAN COST Action countries: a scoping review protocol.

Introduction: While the factors commonly associated with an increased risk of child maltreatment (CM) were found to be increased during COVID-19, reports of actual maltreatment showed varying trends. Similarly, evidence regarding the impact of COVID-19 on CM within the European Cooperation on Science and Technology and Network Collaborative (COST) Action countries remains inconsistent. This scoping review aims to explore the extent and nature of evidence pertaining to CM within the countries affiliated with the Child Abuse and Neglect in Europe Action Network (Euro-CAN), funded by the COST.

Consensus building on definitions and types of child maltreatment to improve recording and surveillance in Europe: protocol for a multi-sectoral, European, electronic Delphi study.

Introduction: Child maltreatment (CM) is a complex global public health issue with potentially devastating effects on individuals' physical and mental health and well-being throughout the life course. A lack of uniform definitions hinders attempts to identify, measure, respond to, and prevent CM. The aim of this electronic Delphi (e-Delphi) study is to build consensus on definitions and types of CM for use in surveillance and multi-sectoral research in the 34 countries in the Euro-CAN (Multi-Sectoral Responses to Child Abuse and Neglect in Europe) project (COST Action CA19106).

An online survey of oral health behaviours and impact on young children and families in Wales.

Introduction Studies outside Wales have consistently reported reduced quality of life as measured by the Early Childhood Oral Health Impact Scale. With relatively high levels of tooth decay in Wales as found through the regular dental surveys, it is important to understand different oral health-related behaviours and impact so that findings can inform oral health promotion in Wales.Methods An oral health questionnaire was made available to volunteers registered with Health Wise Wales.

An external validation of coding for childhood maltreatment in routinely collected primary and secondary care data.

Validated methods of identifying childhood maltreatment (CM) in primary and secondary care data are needed. We aimed to create the first externally validated algorithm for identifying maltreatment using routinely collected healthcare data. Comprehensive code lists were created for use within GP and hospital admissions datasets in the SAIL Databank at Swansea University working with safeguarding clinicians and academics.

Appraisal of published guidelines in European countries addressing the clinical care of childhood sexual abuse: protocol for a systematic review.

Introduction: Childhood sexual abuse (CSA) is a global public health problem with potentially severe health and mental health consequences. Healthcare professionals (HCPs) should be familiar with risk factors and potential indicators of CSA, and able to provide appropriate medical management. The WHO issued global guidelines for the clinical care of children with CSA, based on rigorous review of the evidence base.

Current issues and challenges in the definition and operationalization of child maltreatment: A scoping review.

Background: Studies show considerable variability in the definitions and operationalization of child maltreatment (CM), which limits research, policy formation, surveillance, and cross-country and cross-sector comparisons.

Objective: To review the recent literature (2011-2021) to understand current issues and challenges in defining CM, to assist in the planning, testing and implementing of CM conceptualizations.

Methods: We searched eight international databases.

Head computed tomography in suspected physical abuse: time to rethink?

Background: National guidance recommends CT-head for all children <1 year old with suspected physical abuse, and to be considered for those <2 years old to exclude abusive head trauma.

Objectives: To investigate whether this guidance is followed, and the associations between clinical presentation and CT findings, to determine whether guidance could be refined.

Materials And Methods: A retrospective case note review of all children <2 years old who underwent medical assessment for suspected abuse (2009-2017).

Using an observation tool (Parent-Infant Interaction Observation Scale) to assess parent-infant interaction in the first 2 weeks of life: A feasibility study.

Background: Emotional maltreatment (EM) has profound effects on the developing brain but is hardest to identify in infancy. Early observations of parent-infant interactions may provide opportunities to identify babies at risk of neglect and EM. This prospective study tests, in the first fortnight of life, the feasibility of using an observation tool previously validated for use at 2 to 7 months of age.

Emotional, behavioral, and developmental features indicative of neglect or emotional abuse in preschool children: a systematic review.

Importance: Early intervention for neglect or emotional abuse in preschoolers may mitigate lifelong consequences, yet practitioners lack confidence in recognizing these children.

Objective: To define the emotional, behavioral, and developmental features of neglect or emotional abuse in preschoolers.

Evidence Review: A literature search of 18 databases, 6 websites, and supplementary searching performed from January 1, 1960, to February 1, 2011, identified 22 669 abstracts.

Implementing scientific evidence to improve the quality of Child Protection.

In contrast to other areas of medical practice, there was a lack of a clear, concise and accessible synthesis of scientific literature to aid the recognition and investigation of suspected child abuse, and no national training program or evidence based guidelines for clinicians. The project's aim was to identify the current scientific evidence for the recognition and investigation of suspected child abuse and neglect and to disseminate and introduce this into clinical practice. Since 2003 a comprehensive program of Systematic Reviews of all aspects of physical abuse, emotional abuse, and neglect of children, has been developed.