Children at-risk: child abuse in Denmark.

ABSTRACT

In Denmark there have been few case reports on child abuse, but only one epidemiological study conducted in 1969. We have therefore initiated a number of countrywide studies by contacting all pediatric departments, Institutes of Forensic Medicine and the public health officers in Denmark. The present study describes the findings from the city of Copenhagen during 1970-79. Only 27 children, mostly under seven years of age, were registered. Information on pregnancy, delivery, neonatal period and the children's former development provided significant findings. All the registered families belonged to the lowest social class, half of the children had a history of previous abuse, one third of siblings had also previously been abused and one third of the wives were "battered wives". In 2/3 of the cases the father-figure was the perpetrator. The study showed an urgent need for a more coherent policy on child abuse and child welfare, general guidelines on interdisciplinary work, communication, prevention, community work and follow-up. Practical guidelines for involvement with child abuse are proposed and it is recommended to establish child abuse teams in Denmark, also in order to deal with prevention at the pre- and postnatal level. The pediatric departments should get more involved with community and social work in order to deal with child abuse and neglect at an early stage, where the abuse can be prevented.