Preventing child deaths: learning from review

Up to half of all deaths of children and young people are from non-natural causes. Evidence suggests that a significant proportion of these deaths, which are the result of accidents, suicide, sudden unexpected deaths in infants or homicide, may be preventable. This book investigates the main causes of unexpected deaths of children and young people in the UK, Australia, New Zealand, the United States, and Canada and considers how we might attempt to prevent future deaths. Mechanisms for reviewing child deaths vary within and across countries. Some countries focus on reviewing only those deaths which result from abuse and neglect, or deaths of children known to child welfare agencies; others take a wider public health approach, involving a review of all child deaths. Drawing on the findings from a study of child death review processes across three continents Sharon Vincent assesses the effectiveness of different review mechanisms and identifies good practice in relation to prevention. The book will inform professionals, policy makers and academics working in the area of prevention of child deaths, injury, and maltreatment. It will prove a useful resource for anyone who is training to work with, or who is already working with, children and young people and their families.