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Children’s advocacy centre fails to respond to dental, mental and physical ill-health in abused children

Göransson, Linn ; Ekermann, Sofia ; Dovik, Christoffer ; Klingberg, Gunilla ; Ridell, Karin and Laurell, Louise LU (2022) In Acta Paediatrica, International Journal of Paediatrics 111(6). p.1186-1193
Abstract

Aim: Sweden´s first multidisciplinary children's advocacy centre (CAC) was founded in 2005 as a collaborative practice between child protection services, the legal system and health care in response to police-reported child abuse. CACs were introduced in the county of Skåne in 2007. The aim of the study was to describe the health of children investigated at the CAC in Lund, and to examine whether the CAC model of collaboration responded to the healthcare needs of these children. Methods: All children aged 0–17 years investigated at the CAC in 2015 were included in this retrospective study. We reviewed the CAC files and the children's medical and dental records from one year prior to, until one year after their assessment at the CAC.... (More)

Aim: Sweden´s first multidisciplinary children's advocacy centre (CAC) was founded in 2005 as a collaborative practice between child protection services, the legal system and health care in response to police-reported child abuse. CACs were introduced in the county of Skåne in 2007. The aim of the study was to describe the health of children investigated at the CAC in Lund, and to examine whether the CAC model of collaboration responded to the healthcare needs of these children. Methods: All children aged 0–17 years investigated at the CAC in 2015 were included in this retrospective study. We reviewed the CAC files and the children's medical and dental records from one year prior to, until one year after their assessment at the CAC. Results: Our review of the medical and dental records (n = 298) showed a high prevalence of mental, dental and physical ill-health. After the CAC joint meeting, only 1% of the children were referred for a medical examination and 4% for a focused forensic evaluation. Conclusion: Our study demonstrates limitations in the CAC process in responding to extensive health issues of the young victims of crime. We suggest mental, dental and physical health assessments to be statutory in CACs.

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author
; ; ; ; and
organization
publishing date
type
Contribution to journal
publication status
published
subject
keywords
children's advocacy centre, core standards of outcome variables, forensic evaluation, healthcare needs, medical examination
in
Acta Paediatrica, International Journal of Paediatrics
volume
111
issue
6
pages
1186 - 1193
publisher
Wiley-Blackwell
external identifiers
  • scopus:85126831826
  • pmid:35279867
ISSN
0803-5253
DOI
10.1111/apa.16328
language
English
LU publication?
yes
id
1fddf1f3-3143-4133-b7c5-2d5ff87446dd
date added to LUP
2022-04-20 08:11:32
date last changed
2024-06-17 06:48:11
@article{1fddf1f3-3143-4133-b7c5-2d5ff87446dd,
  abstract     = {{<p>Aim: Sweden´s first multidisciplinary children's advocacy centre (CAC) was founded in 2005 as a collaborative practice between child protection services, the legal system and health care in response to police-reported child abuse. CACs were introduced in the county of Skåne in 2007. The aim of the study was to describe the health of children investigated at the CAC in Lund, and to examine whether the CAC model of collaboration responded to the healthcare needs of these children. Methods: All children aged 0–17 years investigated at the CAC in 2015 were included in this retrospective study. We reviewed the CAC files and the children's medical and dental records from one year prior to, until one year after their assessment at the CAC. Results: Our review of the medical and dental records (n = 298) showed a high prevalence of mental, dental and physical ill-health. After the CAC joint meeting, only 1% of the children were referred for a medical examination and 4% for a focused forensic evaluation. Conclusion: Our study demonstrates limitations in the CAC process in responding to extensive health issues of the young victims of crime. We suggest mental, dental and physical health assessments to be statutory in CACs.</p>}},
  author       = {{Göransson, Linn and Ekermann, Sofia and Dovik, Christoffer and Klingberg, Gunilla and Ridell, Karin and Laurell, Louise}},
  issn         = {{0803-5253}},
  keywords     = {{children's advocacy centre; core standards of outcome variables; forensic evaluation; healthcare needs; medical examination}},
  language     = {{eng}},
  number       = {{6}},
  pages        = {{1186--1193}},
  publisher    = {{Wiley-Blackwell}},
  series       = {{Acta Paediatrica, International Journal of Paediatrics}},
  title        = {{Children’s advocacy centre fails to respond to dental, mental and physical ill-health in abused children}},
  url          = {{http://dx.doi.org/10.1111/apa.16328}},
  doi          = {{10.1111/apa.16328}},
  volume       = {{111}},
  year         = {{2022}},
}