Child Maltreatment-Focused Intervention Research: A Systematic Literature Review

Child maltreatment is a significant public health concern that affects children's health and well-being throughout their life. Children who are maltreated are at an increased risk of developing a disability or delay and are more vulnerable to a range of mental health-related problems, including depression, anxiety, substance abuse, criminality, and other forms of poorly regulated emotional behavior. Children with disabilities are also at a higher risk for maltreatment, and their needs often go unmet. This systematic literature review aimed to identify, analyze, and summarize the preventive programs and intervention practices between 2009 and 2021, addressing maltreatment in children from birth through 8 years of age. The initial search identified 616 peer-reviewed articles on the topic. Seventeen intervention studies met inclusion criteria and were reviewed and coded using systematic procedures. The findings suggest that home visiting and parent education are the most highly investigated educational intervention programs, with parents and caregivers as the primary recipients of the interventions. Studies of maltreatment interventions in children with disabilities are limited, with inadequate methodological rigor. We recommend future robust and wide-ranging investigations to prevent and mitigate the effects of maltreatment of children, particularly children with disabilities, and replications of studies that show promise.