PRENATAL ANTECEDENTS OF CHILD MALTREATMENT

Abstract

Child maltreatment remains a major problem in the United States, the etiology of which is complicated by contributions from biological and social factors. To further clarify the antecedents of child maltreatment, 100 consecutive mothers seen in an urban community hospital obstetric clinic for indigent women (80% medicaid) were studied to determine prenatal and perinatal biological and social factors related to a subsequent report to a department of social services (DSS) for suspected child maltreatment. Fourteen mothers from this study group were referred to DSS before their child was 24 months old. Of the 24 variables assessed, 7 were associated with referral to DSS. 1) Maternal smoking during pregnancy, 2) C-section, 3) NICU admission, and prenatal maternal feelings of: 4) inadequate daily task-sharing among family members, 5) dissatisfaction with visits from extended family, 6) dissatisfaction with male support, 7) dissatisfaction with other support figures. An index was constructed with each of these factors scored “1” when present and “0” when absent. Using this index 86% of mothers referred to DSS vs 43% of mothers not referred to DSS had scores ≤ 3 (p<.01).

These data support the findings of previous work on the antecedents of child maltreatment. They emphasize the relationship between prenatal maternal dissatisfaction with support networks, perinatal biological difficulties and subsequent parent-child interaction problems.

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