Socioeconomic status, parenting knowledge and behaviors, and perceived maltreatment of young low-birth-weight children

This article estimates the relative effects of socioeconomic status and parenting knowledge and behaviors on whether nurse practitioners perceive a family as being suspected of or confirmed for child maltreatment during the first 3 years of a child's life. Results suggest that both socioeconomic status and parenting characteristics contribute substantially to perceived maltreatment. While parenting knowledge and behaviors appear to have a larger impact, only a small portion of the effects of socioeconomic status can be explained by these factors. This implies that families at risk of maltreatment may require more comprehensive interventions than are frequently offered by child welfare service systems.