Assessing child maltreatment prevention via administrative data systems: A case example of reproducibility

Critical issues about scientific reproducibility have been raised about biomedical research, including the reliability of data and analyses within a given study. The case example in this article examined a reproducibility issue pertaining to the use of administrative data systems for evaluation of child maltreatment (CM) prevention, making use of a prevention study conducted over a decade ago that provided a unique opportunity. The place-randomization study, which randomized counties to condition, found that community-wide implementation of a parenting and family support intervention produced positive impact on county-wide rates for substantiated CM cases and out-of-home placements, documented through a state information system. The key consideration is whether and to what extent the administrative record data re-examined retroactively a decade later for the original study’s time period would yield comparable results to those based on data acquired at the time of the study. The results indicated that despite small changes over time, the same data patterns and statistical effects were reproducible for the two archival outcome variables. For substantiated CM, the reproduced analyses reflected higher effect sizes and a clear pattern of reduction as a function of intervention. For out-of-home placements, effect sizes were quite comparable to the original ones, reflecting preventive impact. Overall, this case study illustrated the verifiability of data reproducibility in the context of a population outcome evaluation, which underscores the importance of reliable population-prevalence measurement as an essential part of a comprehensive public health strategy aimed at the prevention of CM.     

Hazardous child labor in Nepal: The case of brick kilns

Hazardous child labor in Nepal is a serious concern, particularly in the brick kiln industry. Although a range of interventions have been implemented in Nepal to address hazardous child labor, there is a lack of research to both measure success and shape further development in interventions that integrate sound child protection practices to ensure the wellbeing of all children. This paper provides a review of the literature outlining interventions for children working in brick kilns in Nepal, and presents preliminary case study findings of one current intervention in the Kathmandu Valley. The paper highlights the strength of applying foundational child protection principles and advocates for the development and implementation of future programs underpinned by broad civil society principles within a child rights and protection framework.     

“I have the right to feel safe”: Evaluation of a school-based child sexual abuse prevention program in Ecuador

BackgroundChild sexual abuse (CSA) is a complex public health problem that has lifelong implications for children’s wellbeing. Interventions may provide children strategies to protect themselves against CSA, but few have been studied in Latin America.ObjectiveEvaluate the immediate and medium-term impact of a 10-week educational program on children’s knowledge of CSA self-protection strategies in Ecuador.Participants and settingsChildren aged 7–12 years from six public elementary schools in Ecuador were cluster-randomized to either receive the intervention between October and November 2016 (Group 1, k = 4) or between March and April 2017 (Group 2, k = 2).MethodsTo assess CSA knowledge, a random sample of students completed a questionnaire at three time points: 1) initial: before any group received the intervention, 2) intermediate: immediately after Group 1 completed the program but before Group 2 started it, and 3) final: after Group 2 completed the program. We evaluated changes in scores using mixed linear regression models with school as a clustering variable and adjusted degrees of freedom (df = 4).ResultsPre-post effect estimates at program completion adjusted for age, sex and clustering by school were 6.5% (95% CI: 2.9, 10.0) and 6.8% (95% CI 3.0, 10.7) for Groups 1 and 2, respectively. Scores did not change among children who had not yet received the intervention at intermediate evaluation (0.94%, 95%CI: −6.0, 7.9). Children in Group 1 maintained the scores six months after the program ended.ConclusionsThe self-protection program increased and maintained CSA knowledge six months after the intervention finished.     

Randomized controlled trial of the Child Protection Unit: Grade and gender as moderators of CSA prevention concepts in elementary students

BackgroundDespite the importance of child sexual abuse (CSA) prevention, there are few recent randomized controlled trials of school-based CSA prevention programs.Objectives(1) To evaluate the effects of the Second Step Child Protection Unit (CPU) on students’ CSA prevention concept knowledge, ability to recognize, report, and refuse unsafe touches, and perceptions of teacher-student relations and (2) investigate the moderating role of age and gender on program effectiveness.Participants and settingEight elementary schools in a large suburban school district in the northeast United States were randomly assigned to the intervention or control condition, with analyses conducted on a total of 2172 students.MethodsStudents in intervention schools received the 6-week CPU and those in the control schools were exposed to business as usual. Students were administered assessments at baseline and then at post-test.ResultsUnivariate Analyses of Covariance revealed that students in the intervention schools had significantly higher scores on all outcomes than students in the control schools at post-test, even after controlling for baseline scores. Children in younger grades made greater gains from the program, and girls scored higher than boys in CSA knowledge and ability to recognize, refuse, and report unsafe touches, but both boys and girls made significant gains.ConclusionsResults support the importance of beginning early with school-based CSA prevention efforts. Although boys are still at a relative disadvantage in terms of their knowledge and ability in this area, they are able to make gains at the same rate as girls.     

中文科技期刊非法网站现状及其对策研究

【目的】探究中文科技期刊非法网站现状,以期为论文作者及期刊社提供其规避建议和措施。【方法】使用百度搜索引擎,通过对1006种中文科技期刊网站的逐一搜索,结合阅读期刊稿约类文献,对比甄别非法期刊网站。【结果】中文科技期刊非法网站主要为论文中介网及钓鱼网站两种形式。论文中介网侵害的科技期刊数量很大,但容易甄别;钓鱼网站侵害期刊数量较少,但因其完全拷贝模仿正规期刊网站架构及其内容,仅篡改或隐去与投稿相关的信息,隐蔽性强,难以甄别。【结论】需要政府部门、互联网机构、期刊社、读者等多方共同采取防范措施。     

青海省治多县泥石流灾害特征及其防治措施

在野外实际调查资料的基础上,系统分析了治多县泥石流灾害的类型、发育特征和形成条件,并结合当地的实际情况提出了预防为主、工程措施和生物措施相结合为辅的防治措施。     

应用frontpage软件建立疾病预防控制网站

应用FrontPage2000软件建立疾病预防控制网站及意义     

论中国土壤污染防治法律的完善

随着我国快速的工业化、城市化进程以及化肥农药在农业生产中的普遍施用,土壤污染问题日益突出,使经济的持续发展和生态环境保护具有不确定性。本文首先对土壤污染的概念及我国土壤污染现状做了扼要的叙述,对我国土壤污染防治法律的现状进行了评述,结合西方主要发达国家德国、美国和日本的土壤污染防治立法的经验和我国的具体情况,提出了我国土壤污染防治应在现行立法的基础上,树立生态优先与生态整体观念．确立“谁污染谁治理”的原则,实际操作中对重污染区和退化严重的地区进行重点防治,实施统一监督管理与部门分工负责管理的行政管理体制,严格追究土壤污染的法律责任。     

Managing prevention of sexual violence and the role of commissioners in national sport federations in Germany

This article analyses how national sport federations (NSF) in organised sport in Germany respond to sport-related political requirements to develop a comprehensive policy for the prevention of sexual violence. Referring to theoretical approaches of self-governance of organisations, data was collected from a quantitative online survey with all NSFs and qualitative interviews with their ‘commissioners for the prevention of sexualised violence’. Findings reveal the vital role of the position of commissioners and a high relevance of socio-structural capacities of the organisation for a comprehensive prevention policy.     

体育教学中运动损伤的预防及处理措施

运动损伤是体育教学中需要直面的一个难题,这一现象严重地影响了体育教学的正常进行,作为体育教学的组织者体育教师应从各个方面加以考虑,主动预防运动损伤的发生及损伤后及时、正确的处理是非常重要的。