A family kindred with ill-used children: the burden on the community

Successive generations of child maltreatment: social and medical disorders in the parents

Sustained attempts were made to identify all families in which there was a pattern of two or more generations of child maltreatment and multi-agency involvement in North-East Wiltshire (population 200,000) and where there were also two or more children maltreated in the current generation (born between 1960 and 1980). One hundred and forty-seven families were discovered. Disorders of behaviour of the parents of the 1960-1980 children are described. Collating information laboriously from at least 34 different agencies revealed very high levels of disturbance. Such detail was generally inaccessible, and its full significance for each family could only be assessed by using family medical record linkage methods. In the parents and antecedents, mental and personality disorders, suicidal attempts, mental handicap, dependence on drugs (mothers) or on alcohol (fathers), epilepsy and criminality were conspicuous features.

Dead children from problem families in NE Wiltshire

Analysis of 147 families in NE Wiltshire known to have suffered child neglect or abuse over two generations showed than in 21 years 560 children had been born. Of these, 513 were known to have been neglected or assaulted or both; 41 out of 560 had died. Only three deaths led to criminal convictions. Detailed collated confidential information indicated that parental behaviour towards the dead children, in particular those aged from 5 weeks to 1 year, had often caused or contributed to their deaths, including some claimed to be clear-cut cases of accident or illness.

Gnerations of maltreated children and multiagency care in one kindred

Rigorously collated information on 40 members of one kindred (not previously studied) and on their spouses and cohabitees, revealed that massive multiagency support had failed fully to ascertain and prevent extensive child abuse over at least three generations. Furthermore, five other large battering families have been closely associated (by cohabitation) with this kindred. Severe behaviour disorder (starting with hyperactivity and uncontrollability) occurred in at least three-quarters of the children, and usually progressed to adult criminality. The second most common disorder was subnormal intelligence, which crucially incapacitated the rearing abilities of young mothers who were associated with antisocial cohabitees. Seven children died in infancy. The Welfare State has done little to help the plight of surviving children in this kindred.

Non-accidental injury in children. Memorandum of evidence to the Parliamentary Select Committee on Violence in the family

Historically, in mediaeval times, the epoch of childhood was less clearly defined. If babyhood was survived, all but the most favoured children became little adults and a convenient source of labour. Instances of the barbarous treatment of children, infanticide, exploitation, starvation, flogging and mutilation, abound (Mause, 1976) and until comparatively recently these seemed to have caused little public reaction.

Review: battered children, their parents, treatment and prevention

This paper reviews the literature on battered children, their parents, management, treatment and prevention. The work suggests that socioeconomic factors are less important than the psychology of the parent, who has often been a battered child himself. Management and treatment of the syndrome in the UK and the USA are indicated. The paper concludes with an outline of the preventive and research projects in the field.

General practice observed. Child abuse and general practice

In a general practice of 9250 patients with 1841 children under 10 there were 12 cases of actual abuse during 1973-6. In March 1976 30 children were at risk. A preventive scheme was set up and the short-term outcome was good. There were no cases of serious abuse among the children at risk.

Epidemiology and family characteristics of severely-abused children

Severe child abuse in north-east Wiltshire was studied retrospectively during the period 1965-71, and prospectively for 18 months from January 1972, after a period of consultative activity with those actively involved to increase awareness of the phenomenon. Severe abuse was strictly defined. A rate of 1 per thousand children under four years old was obtained, together with a death rate of 0-1 per thousand. The families of the retrospective series of abused children were studied in detail and identifying characteristics of large family size, youthfulness, low social-class, instability, and gross psychiatric, medical, and social pathology described. The implications of the ascertainment and death rates are discussed in relation to data from some other studies, and the need emphasized for detailed studies of the apparent clustering of disorder in the families, using linked record systems.

Parents of battered babies: a controlled study

A controlled investigation of 214 parents of battered babies shows that they were young and predominantly of lower social class. Premature parenthood is an associated feature. Among the mothers 76% had an abnormal personality and 48% were neurotic. Nearly half were of borderline or subnormal intelligence; 11% had a criminal record. Of the fathers 64% had an abnormal personality, more than half being psychopaths. Twenty-nine per cent. had a criminal record. Recidivism is an associated feature.The risk of battering possibly diminishes with time. The teaching of appropriate child-rearing skills, symptomatic relief, and social relearning are suggested as realistically based treatment methods and should be combined with a care order. When response to treatment appears unlikely permanent removal from parental care should be considered.