@article{ref1,
title="The selective child welfare funnel: children's exposure to violence and CWS investigations in Sweden",
journal="Child abuse and neglect",
year="2023",
author="Kassman, Anders and Wollter, Filip and Eriksson, Maria",
volume="144",
number="",
pages="e106356-e106356",
abstract="BACKGROUND: Research indicates that child welfare services reach out to children exposed to violence unequally depending on the child's social background, living conditions and violence type. <br><br>OBJECTIVE: Based on the notion of selective recognition of vulnerability and risk, this study explores which children CWS pursue to a complete child welfare investigation. PARTICIPANTS AND SETTING: A register was set up including all children (n = 1764) between 7 and 12 years that were investigated for suspected exposure to violence by CWS in the municipality of the City of Stockholm, Sweden, in 2019. <br><br>METHODS: This cohort was systematically compared to demographic data and national self-report prevalence studies to explore possible biases regarding which children CWS investigates. Descriptive analysis, cluster analysis and logistic regressions were used. <br><br>RESULTS: The results confirm previous research that children exposed to violence have reduced access to material resources and inferior living conditions compared to non-exposed children. Physical abuse is more prevalent among boys of foreign backgrounds in stable, two-parent families residing in higher-status suburbs. Conversely, neglect is more common among children of Swedish backgrounds in low-income, single-parent households living in low-status suburbs. In comparison with self-reported prevalence studies, sexual and psychological abuse seem underrepresented in the study group, while neglect and violence in the family are relatively more frequently investigated compared to self-reported prevalence studies. <br><br>CONCLUSIONS: The results indicate that CWS should develop its methods to reach certain vulnerable groups that are underrepresented for safeguarding and support, for example, girls exposed to sexual abuse.<p /> <p>Language: en</p>",
language="en",
issn="0145-2134",
doi="10.1016/j.chiabu.2023.106356",
url="http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.chiabu.2023.106356"
}