John Frederick

Learning from child death review in the USA, England, Australia, and New Zealand

Despite pronounced reductions in child mortality in industrialised countries, variations exist within and between countries. Many child deaths are preventable, and much could be done to further reduce mortality. For the family, their community, and professionals caring for them, every childs death is a tragedy. Systematic review of all child deaths is grounded in respect for the rights of children and their families, and aimed towards the prevention of future child deaths. In a Series of three papers, we discuss child death in high-income countries in the context of evolving child death review processes. This paper outlines the background to and development of child death review in the USA, England, Australia, and New Zealand. We consider the purpose, process, and outputs of child death review, and discuss how these factors can contribute to a greater understanding of childrens deaths and to knowledge for the prevention of future child deaths.

Sweet and Sour Charity: Experiences of Receiving Emergency Relief in Australia

Abstract Emergency relief is assistance provided by community agencies to people in financial crisis, usually recipients of income support payments. The present study reports on an exploratory, qualitative study of the experiences of people who seek emergency relief. Semistructured interviews were conducted with 20 emergency relief recipients from seven different agencies. Although the interviewees reported some positive experiences, distinct limitations in the extent of assistance were also perceived. Accountability for appropriate processes and quality assurance in service delivery are important requirements of agencies. Increased government funding to assist agencies to provide more holistic services would lead to more effective outcomes.

Children's mental health and well-being after parental intimate partner homicide: a systematic review

Abstract When one parent kills the other, children are confronted with multiple losses, involving their attachment figures and their direct living environment. In these complex situations, potentially drastic decisions are made, for example, regarding new living arrangements and contact with the perpetrating parent. We aimed to synthesize the empirical literature on children’s mental health and well-being after parental intimate partner homicide. A systematic search identified 17 relevant peer-reviewed articles (13 independent samples). We recorded the theoretical background, methodology, and sample characteristics of the studies, and extracted all child outcomes as well as potential risk and protective factors. Children’s outcomes varied widely and included psychological, social, physical, and academic consequences (e.g., post-traumatic stress, attachment difficulties, weight and appetite changes, and drops in school grades). Potential risk and protective factors for children’s outcomes included 10 categories of pre-, peri-, and post-homicide characteristics such as cultural background of the family, whether the child witnessed the homicide, and the level of conflict between the families of the victim and the perpetrator. We integrated the findings into a conceptual model of risk factors to direct clinical reflection and further research.

‘It’s been really, really hard’: a qualitative study of the health problems of people receiving emergency relief in Australia

The aim of the research reported in this paper was to explore the perspectives and insights of emergency relief recipients in relation to their complex health problems, which had contributed to their position of needing to seek emergency relief. The sample consisted of 20 adults aged between 19 and 51 years who had received emergency relief in a regional city in Victoria, Australia. Non-probability sampling was used, employing the convenience sampling procedure. A qualitative, exploratory research approach utilising in-depth interviews was selected to obtain data from the respondents. The method of data analysis used involved open, axial and selective coding. The main findings were that the participants experienced abuse and neglect in childhood, the effects of mental health problems, going without food, lack of access to and the high cost of health care, and the interactive aspects of health problems and poverty. Implications for policy and service delivery are outlined.