Child Protection and Practice最新文献

Background

The study of the trajectories of care leavers regarding their involvement with a series of public services and institutions contributes to identify some indicators of psychosocial adjustment and therefor make proposals of improvement in their transitions into adulthood.

Objectives

The present study aims to contribute to knowledge in this regard and the objectives focus on analysing the relationship of care leavers once they become adults with (i) the child protection system as parents, (ii) the penitentiary system, and (iii) residential resources for people with disabilities, analysing the results according to gender, country of origin, type of foster care when they were minors, type of support received as young care leavers and years in care.

Method

With a pioneering study in Spain, we analyse cohort of former looked-after young people from the Autonomous Community of Catalonia born between 1983 and 1993 (N = 8334), based on the analysis of official records. Bivariate data analysis and three logistic regression models was carried out.

Results and conclusions

The results indicate that despite experiencing higher rates of vulnerability in these three areas compared to the general population, it is notable that the majority of this population with a care background overcome adversity without displaying any of these indicators. Differences by the variables of gender, type of placement and support received are discussed to help identify factors influencing the life pathways of former looked-after youth.

Child sexual exploitation and abuse (CSEA) is a pervasive issue affecting children globally, cutting across socio-economic, ethnic, and cultural lines. While much research has historically emphasized the victimization of girls, emerging studies highlight the vulnerability of boys and underscore the neglected intersections of CSEA with LGBTQI​+ ​statuses. LGBTQI​+ ​youth are particularly susceptible to CSEA due to societal discrimination, stigmatization, and biases stemming from socio-cultural, religious, and family contexts. Notably, transgender children and youth face exacerbated risks, marked by alarming rates of stigma, violence, and discrimination, often termed transphobia. From an examination of the academic, evidence-based literature, this discussion paper sheds light on harmful cultural practices (such as the ‘dancing boys’ of South Asia who may exhibit feminine characteristics and are frequently exposed to the risk of sexual violence); myths (surrounding homosexuality); religious doctrines (which generally approach these issues within a discourse of morality and sin); and socio-ecological factors that collectively increase the risk of CSEA for LGBTQI​+ ​children - with a focus on the developing world. Furthermore, while the socio-ecological and resilience frameworks offer promising avenues for understanding and addressing these vulnerabilities, glaring data gaps persist, especially beyond developed countries. The paper concludes with identifying the compelling need for robust research and a comprehensive understanding of how CSEA impacts LGBTQI​+ ​children worldwide, which can guide targeted interventions and support.

Background

Given the distinct and evolving needs of children with disabilities, doctors-to-the-barrios, community doctors deployed in low-resource areas in the Philippines, may be regarded to be in an ideal position to provide protective services for these children.

Objective

To explore the perspectives of community doctors about their perceived roles in employing protective mechanisms for children with disabilities.

Participants and setting

Twelve community doctors deployed in three major island groups in the Philippines participated in this study.

Method

This study used a qualitative research approach, anchored on the methodological and ethical commitments of Sikolohiyang Pilipino. The participants agreed to take part in an online pakikipagkwentuhan (akin to semi-structured interview). The audio file recordings from these interviews were transcribed. These transcripts were subjected to inductive thematic analysis.

Results

Five main themes were identified about the perceived roles of community doctors in employing protective mechanisms for children with disabilities. These include: (a) identifying and monitoring children with disabilities, (b) attending to the health-related needs of the family, (c) detecting red flags for suspected cases of abuse, (d) providing medical intervention to incidents of abuse, and (e) ensuring the continuity of legal proceedings.

Conclusion

The themes in the study affirm that community doctors occupy a unique space in employing a spectrum of protective measures for children with disabilities as they are among the few, if not the only one, providing crucial health-related services to this group of children, their families, and their communities.