REVIEW   

Minerva Psichiatrica 2018 June;59(2):118-24

DOI: 10.23736/S0391-1772.18.01965-9

Copyright © 2018 EDIZIONI MINERVA MEDICA

language: English

An epidemiological study of child neglect and abuse in Italy: an undervalued problem of public health but also an unknown reality

Pietro FERRARA ^{1, 2} ✉, Michela PULCINO ², Annunziata FILIPPO ², Alessandro DI LUCIA ², Francesca IANNIELLO ¹, Antonio CHIARETTI ¹

¹ Institute of Pediatrics, Sacro Cuore Catholic University, Rome, Italy; ² Campus Bio-Medico University, Rome, Italy

INTRODUCTION: Our aim was to investigate the current Italian situation regarding child neglect that is the most common form of child maltreatment.
EVIDENCE ACQUISITION: Our study was conducted by searching child neglect newspaper articles. We reported news stories occurring in Italy between 1st January, 2014 and 31st December, 2016.
EVIDENCE SYNTHESIS: We identified 167 cases of child neglect in 2014, 137 in 2015 and 122 in 2016. The data that we have found probably is just the tip of the iceberg: there are not any standard measures in order to identify and to intervene in a possible situation of child neglect.
CONCLUSIONS: Moreover, more media information may increase parents’ understanding of child neglect definition and instruct them on how to educate and take care of their children.

KEY WORDS: Child abuse - Child protective services - Italy