Biomedical subjects

Desmond Runyan

Publications and source records attributed to Desmond Runyan.

3 recordsLinked to original sources

PubMed2007

Measuring the risk of physical neglect in a population-based sample.

Child neglect accounts for the majority of officially substantiated cases of child maltreatment in this country, although population-based data are lacking. This study estimates the number of children at risk for specific subtypes of physical neglect, using results of an anonymous telephone survey administered to 1,435 mothers of children ages 0 to 17 years in North and South Carolina. Children were considered "at risk for neglect" from lack of enough food, lack of access to medical care when needed, and inadequate supervision. Demographic factors were significantly related to the outcomes of interest, including lower family income with lack of enough food and access to medical care. There was little overlap in children at risk for the different subtypes of neglect. Maternal self-report data can be used to improve researchers' understanding of children at risk for neglect and to explore gaps in knowledge that might be amenable to intervention and prevention efforts.

Adolescent↗

PubMed2006

International Clinical Epidemiology Network: an opportunity for SGIM international cooperation.

The Canadian/American regional group of the International Clinical Epidemiology Network (INCLEN) invites SGIM members to join in an international network dedicated to improving health in low and middle-income countries and reducing health disparities in North America-not only because many goals and activities of the 2 organizations are compatible such as evidence-based medicine, mentoring, and training; but because collaboration between SGIM and INCLEN could strengthen both groups. With increasing brain drain from the developing world to the North, there is an ever-increasing need for academic contributions from the North to swing the balance toward brain gain for the South. SGIM members have the academic expertise to make an important contribution to global health. Participation and contribution from SGIM members is welcomed at the individual or organizational level. We invite you to explore possible partnership and collaboration.

Canada↗

PubMed2005

Defining child neglect based on child protective services data.

OBJECTIVES: To compare neglect defined by Child Protective Services official codes with neglect defined by a review of CPS narrative data, and to examine the validity of the different neglect measures using children's functioning at age 8 years. METHODS: Data are from 740 children participating in a consortium of longitudinal studies on child abuse and neglect; 481 had at least one CPS report prior to age 8. CPS records were reviewed to ascertain both broad CPS types of neglect as well as specific subtypes of neglect using a modified version of the Maltreatment Classification System (MMCS). Frequencies of, and correlations among, the types and subtypes of neglect were examined. The validity of the neglect measures was evaluated by examining their relationships with children's functioning at age 8. RESULTS: The CPS neglect types and MMCS subtypes were moderately correlated, as were the MMCS subtypes of neglect. In general, neglect was only modestly associated with children's functioning at age 8 (r2=1-4%), with few differences between the CPS neglect types and the MMCS subtypes. There were significant associations with children's total and externalizing behavior problems, impaired socialization, and impaired daily living skills. Among the specific subtypes, neglect of children's medical needs was related to externalizing behavior problems, impaired socialization, and impaired daily living skills. Neglect of children's hygiene needs was related to impaired socialization. CONCLUSION: The moderate correlations among CPS and MMCS types and subtypes of neglect and their similar associations with children's functioning suggest that the considerable effort involved in coding neglect subtypes from CPS narrative data may yield limited incremental knowledge regarding the types of neglect children experience and their sequelae. However, the MMCS does offer useful descriptive information on the nature of neglect children experience, and may guide future research and practice on optimal ways to conceptualize neglect.

Child Abuse↗