Defining child maltreatment for research and surveillance: An international, multi-sectoral, Delphi consensus study in 34 countries in Europe and surrounding regions

Cowley, Laura Elizabeth, Lamela, Diogo, Drabarek, Katarzyna, Bettencourt Rodrigues, Leonor, Ntinapogias, Athanasios, Naughton, Aideen, Debelle, Geoff, Alfandari, Ravit, Jud, Andreas, Otterman, Gabriel, Laajasalo, Taina, Christian, Cindy W., Stancheva, Vaska, Caenazzo, Luciana, Soldino, Virginia, Vaughan, Rachael ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0002-6951-8647, Kemp, Alison ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0002-1359-7948, Nurmatov, Ulugbek ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0002-9557-8635 and Hurt, Lisa ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0002-2741-5383 2025. Defining child maltreatment for research and surveillance: An international, multi-sectoral, Delphi consensus study in 34 countries in Europe and surrounding regions. The Lancet Regional Health Europe 50 , 101196. 10.1016/j.lanepe.2024.101196

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Abstract

Child maltreatment is a complex public health issue that has consequences across the life-course. Studies to quantify child maltreatment and identify interventions and services are constrained by a lack of uniform definitions. We conducted a European Delphi study to reach consensus on types and characteristics of child maltreatment for use in surveillance and research. Statements were developed following a scoping review and identification of key concepts by an international expert team (n = 19). A multidisciplinary expert panel (n = 70) from 34 countries completed three rounds of an online survey. We defined consensus as ≥70% agreement or disagreement with each statement after the final round. Consensus was reached on 26/31 statements (participant retention rate 94%). From the statements, we propose a unified definition of child maltreatment to improve measurement and surveillance in Europe. Concerted efforts are now required to test and refine the definition further prior to real-world operationalisation.

Item Type:	Article
Date Type:	Publication
Status:	Published
Schools:	Schools > Medicine
Publisher:	Elsevier
ISSN:	2666-7762
Date of First Compliant Deposit:	10 January 2025
Date of Acceptance:	11 December 2024
Last Modified:	19 Feb 2025 14:00
URI:	https://orca.cardiff.ac.uk/id/eprint/175179

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