Citation

Gough D, Taylor J. J. Reprod. Infant Psychol. 1988; 6(3): 217.

Copyright

(Copyright © 1988, Informa - Taylor and Francis Group)

DOI

10.1080/02646838808403557

PMID

unavailable

Abstract

Ante-natal and post-natal services provide an obvious focus for preventive strategies for child abuse. This review describes thirteen studies from the child abuse literature which assessed the impact of such additional services. The methodological problems limiting the generaliseability of the results are discussed. These include a lack of specification of the aims, methods, and outcomes of the interventions which makes it hard to assess the differential impact of the services offered. It is argued that the reports provide a demonstration of a range of services that could be better assessed by more focused experimental studies, particularly comparative designs. Comparative descriptive studies would also be useful.