Journal on Developmental Disabilities
Le journal sur les handicaps du développement

Abstract

Developmental delay is over-represented among those children who are reported to child welfare agencies for abuse and neglect. Little comprehensive information is available regarding the pattern of maltreatment (type, frequency, and duration), who the perpetrators are, and perpetrator-related factors that are related to maltreatment. This study compared the 666 children with developmental delay and the 7,006 non-delayed children from the Canadian Incidence Study of Reported Child Abuse and Neglect. Compared to the non-delayed children, those with developmental delays experience more maltreatment, particularly neglect, over longer periods of time and are more likely to have multiple perpetrators. Perpetrators for all children are most likely to be family caregivers - mostly biological parents or one biological parent and one other. The caregivers of children with developmental delays, compared to those without delays, are more likely to have lower education, rely on social security, have low family income, live in rental housing and live in unsafe conditions. In addition, these caregivers have higher rates of cognitive impairment, mental health problems, physical health problems, drug abuse, criminal activity, social isolation and being maltreated as a child. These dramatic findings point to numerous risk factors for maltreatment for children with developmental delays, a population that is already vulnerable in numerous ways.

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