Journal article 346 views 52 downloads
Disabilities in children receiving social care and support in Wales and factors associated with placement into care: A population-based data linkage study
,
Michael Jeanne Childs,
Grace Bailey ,
Lucy J. Griffiths,
Helen Hodges,
Martin Elliott,
Laura Cowley
Child Abuse & Neglect, Volume: 166, Start page: 107510
Swansea University Authors:
Lucy Griffiths , Grace Bailey , Helen Hodges, Laura Cowley
-
PDF | Version of Record
© 2025 The Authors. This is an open access article under the CC BY license.
Download (5.01MB)
DOI (Published version): 10.1016/j.chiabu.2025.107510
Abstract
ObjectivesTo determine the prevalence of disability amongst children receiving care and support in Wales (2017–2021), and examine the proportion of disabled children with different combinations of disabilities, by their care status (in care/not in care). To investigate risk factors associated with p...
| Published in: | Child Abuse & Neglect |
|---|---|
| ISSN: | 0145-2134 |
| Published: |
Elsevier BV
2025
|
| Online Access: |
Check full text
|
| URI: | https://cronfa.swan.ac.uk/Record/cronfa69574 |
| Abstract: |
ObjectivesTo determine the prevalence of disability amongst children receiving care and support in Wales (2017–2021), and examine the proportion of disabled children with different combinations of disabilities, by their care status (in care/not in care). To investigate risk factors associated with placement in care amongst these children.MethodWe used Children Receiving Care and Support Census records held in the Secure Anonymized Information Linkage Databank linked to demographic records and the Children Looked After Census. We used bar charts and UpSet plots for data visualization and conducted multivariable logistic regression analyses to model factors associated with disabled children being placed in care.ResultsOf 37,765 children receiving care and support, 10,720 (28 %) had a disability and 3385 (32 %) disabled children were placed in care. The most common impairments were risk perception (44 %) and mental health problems (41 %). Infants <1 year were more likely to enter care compared with children aged ≥16 (Odds Ratio 3.00, 95 % Confidence Interval 1.93–4.66). Black children (1.64, (1.09–2.42)), and children of mixed (2.34, (1.77–3.08)), or ‘other’ (1.81, (1.16–2.77)) ethnicity were more likely to enter care compared with White children. Child mental health problems were associated with entering care (1.82 (1.60–2.07)) as were the following parental factors: mental ill health (1.45 (1.31–1.62)), substance/alcohol misuse (3.23 (2.87–3.64)), learning disabilities (2.97 (2.56–3.45)), and domestic abuse (1.47 (1.30–1.65)).ConclusionsThis novel, population-wide evidence will contribute to the planning and provision of targeted care and support for disabled children and their families, to help prevent children entering care. |
|---|---|
| Keywords: |
Disabilities; Data linkage; Administrative data; Children in care; Risk factors |
| College: |
Faculty of Medicine, Health and Life Sciences |
| Funders: |
This work was supported by the Children's Social Care Research and Development Centre (CASCADE) Partnership. The CASCADE partnership receives infrastructure funding from Health and Care Research Wales (517199). This project was funded by ADR UK (Administrative Data Research UK). ADR UK is funded by the Economic and Social Research Council (part of UK Research and Innovation). |
| Start Page: |
107510 |