The attitudes of medical professionals toward children at risk of separation from parents in Eastern Europe

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Shelton, Katherine H. and Haddock, Geoffrey and Ottaway, Heather (2018) The attitudes of medical professionals toward children at risk of separation from parents in Eastern Europe. Children and Youth Services Review, 87. pp. 26-33. ISSN 0190-7409 (https://doi.org/10.1016/j.childyouth.2018.02.009)

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Abstract

This article reports the findings of a multi-country study of medical professionals' perceptions and evaluations of children. The primary aim of the study was to establish the perceptions medical professionals working in three Eastern European countries (Romania, Bulgaria, Moldova) hold toward children identified as “typical”, “at-risk” and “with disability”. A second aim was to explore the existence of country-level differences in medical professionals' perceptions of children. The third aim was to examine the pattern of associations between attitudes toward children and a change in use of institutional care to family and community-based alternatives. Over 800 respondents provided survey responses using paper-based and online returns. Findings indicated that positive affect toward children was associated with the favourability of attributes generated about “typical” children. In contrast, positive affect toward children was associated with less favourability toward at-risk children. Attribute favourability ratings generated for at-risk children were positively associated with attributes generated for children with disability. Differences were identified between respondents working across the three countries. No association was identified between attitudes toward children and endorsement of a statement supportive of de-institutionalisation as part of child protection reforms. These findings illuminate how children are conceptualised and understood by a group of medical professionals who hold considerable sway over decisions and recommendations about their relative risk and vulnerability.

ORCID iDs

Shelton, Katherine H., Haddock, Geoffrey and Ottaway, Heather ORCID logoORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0002-5737-1449;
  • Item type:Article
    ID code:86516
    Dates:
    Date
    Event
    1 April 2018
    Published
    7 February 2018
    Published Online
    6 February 2018
    Accepted
    17 May 2017
    Submitted
    Notes:Crown Copyright © 2018 Published by Elsevier Ltd. Katherine H. Shelton, Geoffrey Haddock, Heather Ottaway, The attitudes of medical professionals toward children and children at risk of separation from parents in Eastern Europe, Children and Youth Services Review, Volume 87, 2018, Pages 26-33, https://doi.org/10.1016/j.childyouth.2018.02.009
    Subjects:Social Sciences
    Department:Faculty of Humanities and Social Sciences (HaSS) > Social Work and Social Policy > Centre for Excellence for Children's Care and Protection (CELCIS)
    Depositing user: Pure Administrator
    Date deposited:17 Aug 2023 13:02
    Last modified:11 Nov 2024 14:01
    URI:https://strathprints.strath.ac.uk/id/eprint/86516
CORE (COnnecting REpositories)