A scoping review of child maltreatment prevention in Canada: considerations for equity and access

Child maltreatment remains a pressing public health concern in Canada, with long-term consequences for children, families, and communities. Despite its prevalence, there is limited Canadian-specific evidence on effective prevention strategies, particularly for marginalized populations such as First Nations, Black, immigrant, and low-income families. This article presents findings from a scoping review using Arksey and O’Malley’s methodological framework. In the 40 sources, which included peer-reviewed literature and grey reports, interventions were predominantly secondary and tertiary in nature, with limited emphasis on upstream prevention. Parent education programs were most common but had minimal impact on structural stressors such as poverty and mental health. While multi-component and community-based models showed promise, few programs were culturally adapted or responsive to diverse family structures, including fathers, LGBTQ2 + caregivers, and rural families. Most studies relied on self-report pre-post designs, with few randomized controlled trials conducted in Canada. The lack of disaggregated data obscured disparities in access, engagement, and outcomes. To effectively prevent child maltreatment in Canada, a public health approach is needed—one that is trauma-informed, culturally grounded, and equity-focused.