Changing Trends in Child Welfare Inequalities in Northern Ireland
Changing Trends in Child Welfare Inequalities in Northern Ireland
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北爱尔兰儿童福利不平等的变化趋势
DOI：
10.1093/bjsw/bcad259
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发表时间：
2023
期刊：
影响因子：
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通讯作者：
Bunting L
中科院分区：
文献类型：
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作者：
Bunting L
英格兰和威尔士的纵向研究发现，儿童福利干预措施中的不平等现象日益严重，特别是在最贫困地区的儿童接受照料方面。虽然以前的横截面研究表明，地区层面的贫困和儿童福利干预之间的关联是最弱的北方爱尔兰（NI），它仍然是未知的，如果这反映了更广泛的趋势随着时间的推移。本研究使用纵向行政数据，调查了2010 - 2017年（第1-3阶段）和2020年（第4阶段）儿童与儿童和家庭社会工作接触的（1）转介、（2）调查、（3）登记和（4）照顾阶段与地区水平剥夺的关系。计算了不平等的相对和绝对衡量标准（不平等比率、不平等斜率指数和不平等相对指数），以审查趋势。研究结果突出表明，随着时间的推移，NI儿童福利干预措施的社会梯度明显增加，特别是在较高级别的干预措施和涉及0-4岁儿童的干预措施。常规分析儿童的社会照顾案件的剥夺强调作为一种手段，重点关注贫困和物质不平等，促使从业人员，管理人员和决策者考虑这种不平等的驱动因素，以及如何解决这个问题。
Longitudinal research in England and Wales has identified increasing inequality in child welfare interventions, particularly with respect to children in the poorest areas coming into care. Although previous cross-sectional research has shown associations between area level deprivation and child welfare interventions to be weakest in Northern Ireland (NI), it remains unknown if this reflects wider trends over time. This study uses longitudinal administrative data to investigate the relationship between area level deprivation and the (1) referral, (2) investigation, (3) registration and (4) looked after stages of children’s contact with child and family social work from 2010 to 2017 (stages 1–3) and 2020 (stage 4). Both relative and absolute measures of inequality (Ratio of Inequality, Slope Index of Inequality and Relative Index of Inequality) were calculated to examine trends. The results highlight a clear and increasing social gradient in child welfare interventions in NI over time, particularly at the higher levels of intervention and those involving children aged 0–4 years. Routine analysis of children’s social care caseloads by deprivation is highlighted as a means of focusing attention on poverty and material inequality, prompting practitioners, managers and policy makers to consider the drivers of such inequality and how this might be addressed.