Suspicion of child maltreatment: Knowledge and experiences with mandatory reports to social services among general practitioners in Denmark in 2019–20

Ioanna Milidou; Camilla Hoffmann Merrild; Lise Frost; Annie Vesterby Charles; Hans Christian Kjeldsen; Charlotte Søndergaard

doi:10.1016/j.chiabu.2023.106132

Suspicion of child maltreatment: Knowledge and experiences with mandatory reports to social services among general practitioners in Denmark in 2019–20

Ioanna Milidou^*, Camilla Hoffmann Merrild, Lise Frost, Annie Vesterby Charles, Hans Christian Kjeldsen, Charlotte Søndergaard

^*Corresponding author for this work

Research output: Contribution to journal/Conference contribution in journal/Contribution to newspaper › Journal article › Research › peer-review

3 Citations (Scopus)

Abstract

Background: Child maltreatment has many consequences through the lifespan. The general practitioners (GPs) are in longitudinal contact with the family and can play an important role in identifying children in danger and reporting to the social services. Objective: To explore how GPs manage suspicions of child maltreatment and to investigate potential demographic and geographic differences in reporting practices among Danish GPs. Participants and setting: All registered GPs in Denmark retrieved from Medcom, a state-financed non-profit organization. Methods: We mailed a questionnaire to all registered GPs with demographics, experiences, knowledge, and attitudes in the context of child maltreatment. Results: We received 1252 completed questionnaires (response rate: 38 %). Most of the participants had suspected child maltreatment during their professional life (90 %) and had made a mandatory report (85 %). More than half had received feedback after the report (56 %) and said that their report led to action (56 %). Most GPs reported feeling confident in dealing with child maltreatment (79 %) and being willing to get involved in case of suspicion (8.9 on a 0–10 scale). We observed no geographical differences in reporting neither across the Danish regions nor among rural and urban practices, but GPs working in single practices made fewer reports to the social services. Conclusions: Participant GPs in this study are aware of their role in child protection, have experiences with mandatory reports, and are willing to get involved. Possible areas for attention include collaboration and support between different settings, especially between GP practice, hospitals, justice sector, and social services.

Original language	English
Article number	106132
Journal	Child Abuse & Neglect
Volume	139
Number of pages	9
ISSN	0145-2134
DOIs	https://doi.org/10.1016/j.chiabu.2023.106132
Publication status	Published - May 2023

Keywords

Child abuse and neglect
Child maltreatment
General practitioners
Mandatory report
Social services

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10.1016/j.chiabu.2023.106132

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title = "Suspicion of child maltreatment: Knowledge and experiences with mandatory reports to social services among general practitioners in Denmark in 2019–20",

abstract = "Background: Child maltreatment has many consequences through the lifespan. The general practitioners (GPs) are in longitudinal contact with the family and can play an important role in identifying children in danger and reporting to the social services. Objective: To explore how GPs manage suspicions of child maltreatment and to investigate potential demographic and geographic differences in reporting practices among Danish GPs. Participants and setting: All registered GPs in Denmark retrieved from Medcom, a state-financed non-profit organization. Methods: We mailed a questionnaire to all registered GPs with demographics, experiences, knowledge, and attitudes in the context of child maltreatment. Results: We received 1252 completed questionnaires (response rate: 38 %). Most of the participants had suspected child maltreatment during their professional life (90 %) and had made a mandatory report (85 %). More than half had received feedback after the report (56 %) and said that their report led to action (56 %). Most GPs reported feeling confident in dealing with child maltreatment (79 %) and being willing to get involved in case of suspicion (8.9 on a 0–10 scale). We observed no geographical differences in reporting neither across the Danish regions nor among rural and urban practices, but GPs working in single practices made fewer reports to the social services. Conclusions: Participant GPs in this study are aware of their role in child protection, have experiences with mandatory reports, and are willing to get involved. Possible areas for attention include collaboration and support between different settings, especially between GP practice, hospitals, justice sector, and social services.",

keywords = "Child abuse and neglect, Child maltreatment, General practitioners, Mandatory report, Social services",

author = "Ioanna Milidou and Merrild, {Camilla Hoffmann} and Lise Frost and Charles, {Annie Vesterby} and Kjeldsen, {Hans Christian} and Charlotte S{\o}ndergaard",

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year = "2023",

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doi = "10.1016/j.chiabu.2023.106132",

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Suspicion of child maltreatment: Knowledge and experiences with mandatory reports to social services among general practitioners in Denmark in 2019–20. / Milidou, Ioanna; Merrild, Camilla Hoffmann; Frost, Lise et al.
In: Child Abuse & Neglect, Vol. 139, 106132, 05.2023.

Research output: Contribution to journal/Conference contribution in journal/Contribution to newspaper › Journal article › Research › peer-review

TY - JOUR

T1 - Suspicion of child maltreatment

T2 - Knowledge and experiences with mandatory reports to social services among general practitioners in Denmark in 2019–20

AU - Milidou, Ioanna

AU - Merrild, Camilla Hoffmann

AU - Frost, Lise

AU - Charles, Annie Vesterby

AU - Kjeldsen, Hans Christian

AU - Søndergaard, Charlotte

PY - 2023/5

Y1 - 2023/5

N2 - Background: Child maltreatment has many consequences through the lifespan. The general practitioners (GPs) are in longitudinal contact with the family and can play an important role in identifying children in danger and reporting to the social services. Objective: To explore how GPs manage suspicions of child maltreatment and to investigate potential demographic and geographic differences in reporting practices among Danish GPs. Participants and setting: All registered GPs in Denmark retrieved from Medcom, a state-financed non-profit organization. Methods: We mailed a questionnaire to all registered GPs with demographics, experiences, knowledge, and attitudes in the context of child maltreatment. Results: We received 1252 completed questionnaires (response rate: 38 %). Most of the participants had suspected child maltreatment during their professional life (90 %) and had made a mandatory report (85 %). More than half had received feedback after the report (56 %) and said that their report led to action (56 %). Most GPs reported feeling confident in dealing with child maltreatment (79 %) and being willing to get involved in case of suspicion (8.9 on a 0–10 scale). We observed no geographical differences in reporting neither across the Danish regions nor among rural and urban practices, but GPs working in single practices made fewer reports to the social services. Conclusions: Participant GPs in this study are aware of their role in child protection, have experiences with mandatory reports, and are willing to get involved. Possible areas for attention include collaboration and support between different settings, especially between GP practice, hospitals, justice sector, and social services.

AB - Background: Child maltreatment has many consequences through the lifespan. The general practitioners (GPs) are in longitudinal contact with the family and can play an important role in identifying children in danger and reporting to the social services. Objective: To explore how GPs manage suspicions of child maltreatment and to investigate potential demographic and geographic differences in reporting practices among Danish GPs. Participants and setting: All registered GPs in Denmark retrieved from Medcom, a state-financed non-profit organization. Methods: We mailed a questionnaire to all registered GPs with demographics, experiences, knowledge, and attitudes in the context of child maltreatment. Results: We received 1252 completed questionnaires (response rate: 38 %). Most of the participants had suspected child maltreatment during their professional life (90 %) and had made a mandatory report (85 %). More than half had received feedback after the report (56 %) and said that their report led to action (56 %). Most GPs reported feeling confident in dealing with child maltreatment (79 %) and being willing to get involved in case of suspicion (8.9 on a 0–10 scale). We observed no geographical differences in reporting neither across the Danish regions nor among rural and urban practices, but GPs working in single practices made fewer reports to the social services. Conclusions: Participant GPs in this study are aware of their role in child protection, have experiences with mandatory reports, and are willing to get involved. Possible areas for attention include collaboration and support between different settings, especially between GP practice, hospitals, justice sector, and social services.

KW - Child abuse and neglect

KW - Child maltreatment

KW - General practitioners

KW - Mandatory report

KW - Social services

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DO - 10.1016/j.chiabu.2023.106132

M3 - Journal article

C2 - 36924625

AN - SCOPUS:85149838386

SN - 0145-2134

VL - 139

JO - Child Abuse & Neglect

JF - Child Abuse & Neglect

M1 - 106132

ER -

Suspicion of child maltreatment: Knowledge and experiences with mandatory reports to social services among general practitioners in Denmark in 2019–20

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