IDEAS home Printed from https://ideas.repec.org/a/eee/cysrev/v172y2025ics0190740925001707.html
   My bibliography  Save this article

Nonlinear child protection intervention and child population density: A prevalence study

Author

Listed:
  • Esposito, Tonino
  • Caldwell, Johanna
  • Chabot, Martin
  • Trocmé, Nico
  • Hélie, Sonia
  • Fallon, Barbara

Abstract

Background: Prior studies suggest that numerous variables such as service availability, socioeconomic vulnerability, and other features of the contexts around families may account for clustering of child protection cases in certain areas. Notions of “spatial equity” prompt us to inquire about CP involvement across differently populated geographies. Objective: This study aims to illustrate whether child population density plays a significant role in the likelihood of childhood prevalence of involvement in the child protection system. Participants and Setting: This study draws from administrative CP data spanning 2000 to 2017 across 10,640 Census Dissemination Areas (DAs) of Quebec, the most socially progressive jurisdiction in North America where many family-oriented services and income transfers are universal. Methods: Using cumulative risk life table analyses, we calculate actual prevalence rates of confirmed CP reports, findings of a child’s security or development being compromised (SDC), and placement out of the home. Results were presented according to geographic tiers defined by their child population density. Results: Results show that children in the lowest population density tier experienced the highest prevalence of CP involvement (19.6% confirmed report, 12.4% SDC, 6.9% placement). The second highest prevalence rates were found in the highest population density tier (15.3% confirmed report, 9.6% SDC, 6.2% placement). The middle density tier fell below average with the lowest rates (12.4% confirmed report, 7.1% SDC, 3.9% placement). Conclusions: The findings suggest that there is a nonlinear relationship between population density and prevalence of child protection involvement. We propose that this may relate to availability, accessibility, and appropriateness of both formal services and informal supports, as well as demographic patterns of socioeconomically vulnerable, Indigenous, and Black children living in certain areas of the province. Findings should prompt further inquiry into mechanisms of risk across regions to inform prevention policy.

Suggested Citation

  • Esposito, Tonino & Caldwell, Johanna & Chabot, Martin & Trocmé, Nico & Hélie, Sonia & Fallon, Barbara, 2025. "Nonlinear child protection intervention and child population density: A prevalence study," Children and Youth Services Review, Elsevier, vol. 172(C).
    • Handle: RePEc:eee:cysrev:v:172:y:2025:i:c:s0190740925001707
    DOI: 10.1016/j.childyouth.2025.108287
    as

    Download full text from publisher

    File URL: http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0190740925001707
    Download Restriction: Full text for ScienceDirect subscribers only
    File URL: https://libkey.io/10.1016/j.childyouth.2025.108287?utm_source=ideas
    LibKey link: if access is restricted and if your library uses this service, LibKey will redirect you to where you can use your library subscription to access this item
    ---><---

    As the access to this document is restricted, you may want to search for a different version of it.

    Corrections

    All material on this site has been provided by the respective publishers and authors. You can help correct errors and omissions. When requesting a correction, please mention this item's handle: RePEc:eee:cysrev:v:172:y:2025:i:c:s0190740925001707. See general information about how to correct material in RePEc.

    If you have authored this item and are not yet registered with RePEc, we encourage you to do it here. This allows to link your profile to this item. It also allows you to accept potential citations to this item that we are uncertain about.

    We have no bibliographic references for this item. You can help adding them by using this form .

    If you know of missing items citing this one, you can help us creating those links by adding the relevant references in the same way as above, for each refering item. If you are a registered author of this item, you may also want to check the "citations" tab in your RePEc Author Service profile, as there may be some citations waiting for confirmation.

    For technical questions regarding this item, or to correct its authors, title, abstract, bibliographic or download information, contact: Catherine Liu (email available below). General contact details of provider: http://www.elsevier.com/locate/childyouth .

    Please note that corrections may take a couple of weeks to filter through the various RePEc services.

    IDEAS is a RePEc service. RePEc uses bibliographic data supplied by the respective publishers.