International variations in harsh child discipline.

Background: Although the history of recognition of child abuse in Europe and North America extends over 40 years, recognition and data are lacking in other parts of the world. Cultural differences in child-rearing complicate cross-cultural studies of abuse.

Objective: To ascertain rates of harsh and less-harsh parenting behavior in population-based samples.

Core competencies for injury and violence prevention.

Efforts to reduce the burden of injury and violence require a workforce that is knowledgeable and skilled in prevention. However, there has been no systematic process to ensure that professionals possess the necessary competencies. To address this deficiency, we developed a set of core competencies for public health practitioners in injury and violence prevention programs.

Injury prevention advice in top-selling parenting books.

Objective: Parenting books are a commonly used source of information on how to keep children and adolescents safe from injuries, the leading cause of death and disability for children aged 1 to 18 years. The content and the quality of the messages contained in these books have not been evaluated formally. The objective of this study was to determine the quantity and the quality of injury prevention messages contained in popular parenting books.

Epidemiologic features of the physical and sexual maltreatment of children in the Carolinas.

Context: Child maltreatment remains a significant public health and social problem in the United States. Incidence data rely on substantiated reports of maltreatment known to official social service agencies.

Objective: The objective of this study was to describe the epidemiologic features of child physical and sexual abuse, on the basis of maternal self-reports.

Evaluation of a peer assessment approach for enhancing the organizational capacity of state injury prevention programs.

To conduct a formative and pilot impact evaluation of the State Technical Assessment Team (STAT) program, a visitation-based (visitatie) peer assessment program designed to enhance the organizational capacity of state health department injury prevention programs. The formative evaluation was based on observational, record review, and key informant interview data collected during the implementation of the first 7 STAT visits. Pilot impact data were derived from semi-structured interviews with state injury prevention personnel one year after the visit.

Partner violence as a risk factor for mental health among women from communities in the Philippines, Egypt, Chile, and India.

Although studies have documented the associations between Intimate Partner Violence (IPV) and mental health, few have been done in developing countries. In this study, the association between IPV and mental health in women from different developing countries was established. Women, 15 to 49 years old with at least one child 18 years old or younger, were randomly selected from communities in Chile, Egypt, India, and the Philippines (N = 3974).

Intimate partner violence and the role of socioeconomic indicators in WorldSAFE communities in Chile, Egypt, India and the Philippines.

Background: The literature documenting the influence of socioeconomic status (SES) on health and injury does not provide a clear consensus on how to account for socioeconomic indicators in population and health outcome studies across countries. The World Studies of Abuse in the Family Environment (WorldSAFE) consortium conducted a series of population-based, multi-stage probability sampling cross-sectional surveys in selected communities in five countries from 1997 to 2003 that allows for the examination of the relationship of SES with current physical and psychological intimate partner violence (IPV).

Methods: Women aged 15-49 years (n = 3975) from six urban low- and middle-income communities participating the the WorldSAFE consortium were interviewed.

Training and field methods in the WorldSAFE collaboration to study family violence.

Introduction: This paper describes the collaborative efforts of research teams from medical schools in India, Chile, Egypt, the Philippines, Brazil, and the United States to develop and implement a core protocol for household surveys on family violence and to conduct standardized training for field workers. Our objectives are to share successes and difficulties encountered in training and field work and to offer recommendations for similar undertakings.

Methods: Study methods, developed by a multidisciplinary group of international investigators, were documented in a procedures manual.

The world studies of abuse in the family environment (WorldSAFE): a model of a multi-national study of family violence.

The World Studies of Abuse in the Family Environment (WorldSAFE) designed and implemented a study of family violence--intimate partner violence and child abuse and neglect--using standardized methods to cover over 12,000 women in eighteen communities within five lesser-developed countries. The rationale, process and methods for developing the population-based survey are described. Standardized methods included common training of investigators and field staff, sampling strategies, eligibility criteria, instruments, data collection methods, operational definitions, analysis strategies and data management.

Adverse behavioral and emotional outcomes from child abuse and witnessed violence.

This article examines mental health outcomes of children who have witnessed violence in their social environment and/or have been physically abused. Participants (n = 167) come from a longitudinal study on child maltreatment. Outcomes-including depression, anger, and anxiety--are measured by the Child Behavior Checklist and the Trauma Symptom Checklist for Children.

Behavior and development of preschool children born to adolescent mothers: risk and 3-generation households.

Objective: To investigate whether living in a 3-generation household (grandmother-mother-child) is associated with fewer behavior problems and better cognitive development among preschool children of mothers who gave birth during adolescence and whether it protects children from the behavior and developmental problems associated with maltreatment and maternal depression.

Design: Cohort study.

Setting: Participants included low-income families recruited from 4 sites: East, Northwest, Midwest, and South, who are part of LONGSCAN, a longitudinal study of children's health, development, and maltreatment.