La prevalencia del maltrato infantil en la provincia de Gipuzkoa

Resumen

Se presenta un estudio epidemiológico del maltrato infantil en la provincia de Gipuzkoa. Se realizó una cuantificación y categorización de los expedientes de protección infantil y un estudio de los casos que determinados profesionales (pediatras, maestros, escuelas infantiles, trabajadores sociales de municipios) identificaron como de maltrato infantil. Se analizaron 189 expedientes abiertos en los que predomina el alto porcentaje de casos de abandono físico (50%) y la baja tasa de casos de abuso sexual detectados (1%). Los profesionales encuestados identificaron un total de 884 casos de maltrato infantil, en los que destaca el mismo porcentaje de casos de abandono físico y el aumento del porcentaje de casos de maltrato y abandono emocional. Realizando las extrapolaciones pertinentes y controlando el posible solapamiento de casos detectados por diferentes fuentes profesionales, se puede considerar que la tasa de prevalencia del maltrato infantil en la provincia de Gipuzkoa en 1989 era del 15 por mil para los niños/as menores de 15 años.

Abstract

Results from an epidemiological study on child abuse in the province of Gipuzkoa are reported here. First, child protection case files were quantified and categorized; secondly, cases of abuse identified by professionals working with children (pediatricians, teachers, primary school Head-teachers, district social workers) were studied. Out of a total of 189 files analysed, physical neglect was found to be the most common (50%), and sexual abuse (1%) the least common. Professionals also identified a total of 884 cases of child abuse. Here the incidence of physical neglect was found to be the same as for case files, whereas abuse and emotinal neglect was higher. Making the relevant extrapolations and controlling for a possible overlap of cases detected by the different professionals, the rate of child abuse in Gipuzkoa in 1989 was 15 per thousand for boys and girls under 15 years of age.

Extended Summary

The article reports a study, carried out in 1989, on the prevalence of child abuse in the province of Guipuzcoa. This study falls within the context of a lager investigation whose aim was to plan the resources of child protection service in the region. For this purpose, it was first necessary to study its needs. We therefore proceeded to quantify and categorize both cases opened by the child protection service in 1989, and cases which could be considered in need of protective intervention though they had not received any. A total of 278 child protection files were analysed, out of which 189 were cases categorized as child abuse (physical abuse, physical neglect, sexual abuse, emotional abuse and/or neglect, begging, work exploitation, corruption, and inability to control the child's conduct). About 50% were cases of physical neglect, and 19% of physical abuse. The most salient findings are the low incidence of sexual abuse (l%), and the high rate of cases in which there is an inability to control de child's conduct (18.7%).

Secondly, a representative sample of pediatricians, teachers, primary school Head-teachers, and district social workers were interviewed about any cases which met the criteria for inclusion in any of the above typologies of abuse. 884 cases of child abuse were thus identified. Physical neglect once again constituted 50% of cases, though physical abuse is lower, and emotional abuse and/or neglect is higher. Professionals also provided information about factors related to the abuse problem which allowed us to estimate the severity of each case, its prognosis, and the need for intervention.

With the methodological limitations of study, the incidence of child abuse was calculated based on an estimate of the number of professionals interviewed and the percentage of answers received, also taking into account a possible overlap in cases detected by the different professionals. Thus, in 1989 the rate of child abuse in the province of Guipuzcoa was 15 per thousand for boys and girls under 15 years of age.

Palabras clave:

• Maltrato infantil
• abuso
• prevalencia
• expedients

Keywords:

• Child abuse
• abuse
• prevalence
• case files