The Emergence of Child Protection Capacities in Oman: Lessons learned.

Child maltreatment (CM) is the abuse and neglect of children under the age of 18 years. Many types of CM lead to actual or potential harm to the child's health. It is a widespread phenomenon and is well reported in Western countries in contrast with the Gulf countries. Reports documenting CM in Oman are now available; therefore, this review aimed to provide an overview of the state and patterns of CM in Oman. It also addresses the current child protection services (CPS) in Oman and the sociocultural constraints. All English-language relevant medical literature about CM in Oman that were published before January 2020 were included. This review can serve as a basic reference in the field of CM in Oman and should help to identify lacunas in the current CPS as well as provide guidance in the establishment of a more effective one.

Bilateral Parietal Skull Fractures in Infants Attributable to Accidental Falls.

INTRODUCTION: Multiple skull fractures, including bilateral parietal skull fractures (BPSFs) in infants are considered to be suspicious for abusive head trauma (AHT). The aim of this report is to describe a series of BPSF cases in infants which occurred due to accidental falls. METHODS: We searched our neuroradiology database for BPSF in infants (<1 year old) diagnosed between 2006 and 2019; we reviewed initial presentation, mechanisms of injury, clinical course, head imaging, skeletal survey X-rays, ophthalmology, social work and child abuse physicians (CAP) assessments, and long-term follow-up. "Confirmed accidental BPSF" were strictly defined as having negative skeletal survey and ophthalmology evaluation and a CAP conclusion of accidental injury. RESULTS: Twelve cases of BPSF were found; 3 were confirmed to be accidental, with a mean age at presentation of 3 months. Two infants had single-impact falls, and 1 had a compression injury; all 3 had small intracranial hemorrhages. None had bruises or other injuries, and all remained clinically well. A literature search found 10 similar cases and further biomechanical evidence that these fractures can occur from accidental falls. CONCLUSION: While AHT should be kept in the differential diagnosis whenever BPSFs are seen, these injuries can occur as a result of accidental falls.

Tiered curriculum in global child health: A novel CanMEDs-based multidisciplinary educational program.

Despite the importance of Global Child Health to the practice of 21st century paediatricians, formal comprehensive outcomes-based curricula in this area are lacking. This article describes the development and implementation of a novel, tiered, CanMEDs-based and multidisciplinary curriculum in Global Child Health that was based on a thorough review of the literature. In addition to detailing the steps and results of our literature review, we discuss the three tiers of our curriculum (General Track, Advanced Curriculum and Elective Track) as well as the evidence-informed curricular topics and learning outcomes associated with each tier. Moreover, we highlight the importance of a multidisciplinary approach to Global Child Health education and the potential for this work to help transition Global Child Health training to competency-based models of teaching and learning. This review may help hospitals and residency programs across Canada looking to develop more formal curricula in this often overlooked area.

Maltreatment experiences and associated factors prior to admission to residential care: a sample of institutionalized children and youth in western Kenya.

OBJECTIVES: This study aims to determine the prevalence of maltreatment experienced by institutionalized children prior to their admission to Charitable Children's Institutions (orphanages) in western Kenya, and to describe their socio-demographic characteristics, reasons for admission, and the factors associated with prior experiences of maltreatment. METHODS: A systematic file review was undertaken in five CCIs. Demographic, prior caregiving settings and maltreatment data were extracted. Forms of maltreatment were recorded according to WHO and ISPCAN guidelines. Logistic regression was used in bivariate and multivariable analyses of factors associated with reasons for placement and forms of maltreatment. RESULTS: A total of 462 files were reviewed. The median (interquartile range) age of children was 6.8 (5.08) years at admission, 56% were male, and 71% had lost one or both parents. The reasons for admission were destitution (36%), abandonment (22%), neglect (21%), physical/sexual abuse (8%), and lack of caregiver (8%). The majority of child and youth residents had experienced at least one form of maltreatment (66%): physical abuse (8%), sexual abuse (2%), psychological abuse (28%), neglect (26%), medical neglect (18%), school deprivation (38%), abandonment (30%), and child labor (23%). The most common reason for non-orphans to be admitted was maltreatment (90%), whereas the most common reason for orphans to be admitted was destitution (49%). Girls (adjusted odds ratio, AOR: .61, 95% CI: .39-.95) and orphans (AOR: .04, 95% CI: .01-.17) were both independently less likely to have a history of maltreatment irrespective of whether it was the reason for admission. Children whose primary caregiver had not been a parent (AOR: .36, 95% CI: .15-.86) and orphans (AOR: .17, 95% CI: .06-.44) were less likely to have been admitted for maltreatment, while children who were separated from siblings were more likely to have been admitted for maltreatment (AOR: 1.62, 95% CI: 1.01-2.60). CONCLUSIONS: The high prevalence of maltreatment prior to admission, particularly among nonorphans, suggests the need for better child abuse and neglect prevention programs in communities, and psychosocial support services in institutions. The significant proportion of children admitted for poverty, predominantly among orphans, indicates that community-based poverty-reduction programs might reduce the need for institutionalization.

Child abuse and neglect among orphaned children and youth living in extended families in sub-Saharan Africa: What have we learned from qualitative inquiry?

Researchers and aid organizations have reported that orphans in sub-Saharan Africa (SSA) are particularly vulnerable to abuse and neglect. This article is a review of qualitative studies that address experiences of maltreatment among orphaned children and youth living in extended families in SSA. It aims to inform policy and programming by providing a better understanding of the types of maltreatment encountered and the perceived risk factors. A literature search was carried out using Google, PubMed, Scholars Portal Search and Scopus. Searches of relevant bibliographies and publications of authors were also undertaken. Studies from peer-reviewed journals and the grey literature were reviewed for relevance and quality. Eligible studies had to include orphans living with extended family in SSA as participants, explore their maltreatment experiences and employ a sound qualitative methodology. Findings were coded, extracted, compared and synthesized. Twenty articles, representing 15 studies, were selected. These studies, from diverse SSAn countries, reported similar forms of maltreatment among orphaned children and youth: experiences of intra-household discrimination; material and educational neglect; excessive child labour; exploitation by family members and psychological, sexual and physical abuse. The perceived risk factors were poverty, living with a non-biological caregiver, stigma and alcohol abuse. The findings of the included studies suggest that awareness, prevention and intervention initiatives aimed to curb child abuse and neglect within communities in SSA are needed and should be coupled with efforts to promote education and reduce poverty and stigma.

Life in institutional care: the voices of children in a residential facility in Botswana.

As a result of the HIV/AIDS pandemic, there are now more than 12 million orphans in sub-Saharan Africa. The majority of these children have been absorbed into their extended families. A minority of AIDS orphans and other vulnerable children are living in residential care facilities. Although concerns have been raised regarding the care received in such facilities, very little is known about children's perspectives on their own experiences residing in these institutions. As part of an ongoing initiative to better understand the impact of HIV/AIDS in Southern Africa and what can be done to address needs, one-on-one interviews were conducted with the children and youth residents, and graduates of a residential care facility in Botswana. The children report on the importance of having uninterrupted access to food, shelter and schooling and a sense of belonging. However, they also reveal a profound ambivalence towards their paid caregivers, and the other children residents. They describe being separated from siblings, missing their families and feeling disconnected from the community at large. Their narratives offer insight into ways in which we can better meet their complex needs. Policy implications are discussed.