Canadian incidence study of reported child abuse and neglect: Methodology

This article describes the methodology of the first Canada-wide study of th e incidence and characteristics of reported child abuse and neglect. Child welfare investigators from a random sample of 51 child welfare service area s completed a three-page survey form describing the results of 7,672 child maltreatment reports received during the months of October to December 1998 . The study documented a 90% participation rate and a 95% item completion r ate. An estimated 135,571 child maltreatment investigations were completed, a rate of 21.52 investigated children per 1,000 children in Canada in 1998 . The Canadian Incidence Study of Reported Child Abuse and Neglect is a ric h database that will provide researchers with important contextual informat ion on reported child maltreatment in Canada and a comprehensive source of information on factors associated with key service decisions made by child welfare investigators.