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The social and economic origins of child abuse and neglect

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  28 August 2020

Frank Ainsworth Open the ORCID record for Frank Ainsworth [Opens in a new window]
Frank Ainsworth*
Affiliation:
School of Social Work and Human Services, James Cook University, Townsville Campus, Queensland4811, Australia
*
Author for correspondence: Frank Ainsworth, Email: frankainsworth@hotmail.com
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Abstract

This commentary aims to start a debate about various dimensions of social disadvantage and the relationship to child abuse and neglect (CAN). These dimensions include poverty, educational attainment, employment status, sub-standard housing, disadvantaged neighbourhoods and social isolation from family. Other aspects such as mental health issues, domestic violence and substance misuse are compounding factors that are critical influences on the relationship between disadvantage and CAN. New South Wales is used as the exemplar Australian state.

Keywords

Child abuse and neglectout-of-home caresocial originspovertysocial disadvantageAboriginalityservice costs
Type
Articles
Information
Children Australia , Volume 45 , Special Issue 4: Special Issue: Poverty and Child Abuse , December 2020 , pp. 202 - 206
Copyright
© [The Author(s)] 2020. Published by Cambridge University Press

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References

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Statutes

NSW Children and Young Persons (Care and Protection) Act 1998.

USA Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act (2010). PL 111–148.