A Health Surveillance Update on Canadian Children and Youth

	Child Maltreatment Surveillance The immediate and long-term impact of child maltreatment on the health of Canadians is alarming. Victims of child abuse are at considerable risk of suffering from language delays, learning disabilities, mental illness and brain damage.(13) Children from abusive homes are also more likely to be malnourished or suffer growth delays.(13) In terms of long-term effects, it is estimated that between 60 and 70% of adult drug or alcohol abusers have a history of child abuse.(14) Furthermore, victims of child abuse are at greater risk of becoming abusers themselves.(15) Despite this burden of suffering, there are no existing national data on the incidence of child abuse. The Child Maltreatment Division in the Bureau of Reproductive and Child Health is committed to addressing this gap in child health surveillance. As a starting point, the Division is conducting the Canadian Incidence Study of Reported Child Abuse and Neglect (CIS), in collaboration with participating provincial and territorial child welfare agencies across Canada. First and foremost, the study will provide reliable estimates of the scope and characteristics of reported child abuse and neglect in Canada. In addition, this national surveillance will provide a basis for trend analysis and will inform the development of public policies and programs for children and youth at risk of maltreatment.

1. Bureau of Reproductive and Child Health, LCDC. Analysis and interpretation of Statistics Canada data 1999.

2. Estimates of the ratio of injury-related deaths to the number of non-fatal injuries and emergency room visits obtained from Laboratory Centre for Disease Control analysis and interpretation of data from the Canadian Hospitals Injury Reporting and Prevention Program (CHIRPP).

3. Fingerhut LA, Cox CS, Warner M, et al. International comparative analysis of injury mortality: Findings from the ICE on injury statistics.  Advance data from vital and health statistics; no 303.  Hyattsville, Maryland: National Center for Health Statistics. 1998.

4. Young JG, Wagner JM. Speaking for the dead to protect the living: the role of the coroner in Ontario. Health Reports 1994;6:339-52

5. Bureau of Reproductive and Child Health, LCDC. Analysis and interpretation of data from the Canadian Institute for Health Information 1999.

6. Mao Y, Moloughney BW, Semenciw RM, et al. Indian reserve and registered Indian mortality in Canada. Can J Public Health 1992;83(5):350-53.

7. Morrison CD, Stanwick RS, Tenenbein M. Infant walker injuries persist in Canada after sales have ceased. Pediatric Emergency Care 1996;12:180-82.

8. Laffoy M, Fitzpatrick P, Jordan M, Dowdall D. Attitudes to and use of baby walkers in Dublin. Inj Prev 1995;1(2):109-11.

9. Smith GA, Bowman MJ, Luria JW, Shields BJ. Baby walker-related injuries continue despite warning labels and public education. Pediatrics 1997;100(2):E1.

10. Thein MM, Lee J, Tay V, Ling SL. Infant walker use, injuries and motor development. Inj Prev 1997;3(1):63-6.

11. Canadian Hospitals Injury Reporting and Prevention Program. CHIRPP News. Injuries associated with baby walkers. Laboratory Centre for Disease Control. Ottawa. March, 1996.

12. Canadian Hospitals Injury Reporting and Prevention Program. CHIRPP News. Active CHIRPP centre benefits Winnipeg community. Laboratory Centre for Disease Control. Ottawa. March, 1997.

13. Martin HP. Abused children - what happens eventually. In: Oates K, ed. Child abuse: a community concern. New York: Brunner/Mazel, 1982.

14. Cohen FS, Densen-Gerber J. A study of the relationship between child abuse and drug addiction in 178 patients: preliminary results. Child Abuse Negl 1982;6:383-7.

15. Appleford B. Family violence review: prevention and treatment of abusive behavior. Ottawa: Correctional Services Canada, 1988.

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