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Abstract
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BACKGROUND: Prevention and management of violence against children requires a multidisciplinary approach. Countries and regions tackle this problem according to their understanding and capacity, and therefore these teams work differently in different countries and regions.
OBJECTIVES: Current study is a bird's eye view looking at the response to violence against children through exploring multidisciplinary approaches and challenges in child protection in high, upper-middle, and lower-middle-income countries.
PARTICIPANTS: Participants for this study were selected through purposive sampling from eleven countries, one key informant from each country (N = 11).
METHODS: Current study is qualitative in nature and phenomenological design was used. Key informants were approached through email, and semi-structured online interviews were conducted. Thematic analysis was used to analyze the data and several themes emerged.
RESULTS: Capacity building systems are established in upper-middle and high-income countries, whereas lower-income countries are struggling with these systems, the Philippines having a better structured system. The process of child protection services is mostly similar except the availability of multidisciplinary teams, which lacks in lower-middle and even in upper-middle-income countries. These teams function relatively well in high-income countries although the lead role in these teams differs from country to country. There are many challenges in managing these teams in low-middle income countries. Child protection systems are also reasonably well established in upper and upper-middle-income countries whereas gaps are visible between policies and implementation in lower-middle-income countries.
CONCLUSION: It is the responsibility of each country to protect children as per their commitment to SDGs. Although the functioning of multidisciplinary teams seems better in high and upper-middle countries, the low-middle income countries are trying to combat violence against children according to their priorities, some are doing better than others.
Language: en |