Case management by public health nurses in an effort to prevent child abuse and neglect:Collaboration with nursery school staff

Background: In Japan, local goverments implement maternal and child health projects for nearly all children in the community through health check-ups and distribution of an information booklet for mothers. Public health nurses (PHNs) working for local governments play an important role in preventing child abuse and neglect. Providing support to high-risk families may require collaboration with nursery school staff (NSS). Our objective was to clarify the activities of PHNs in collaboration with NSS in case management for preventing child abuse and neglect.

Methods: Unstructured interviews of five PHNs working for 3 local governments were conducted. PHNs were asked about their collaboration with NSS in case management for preventing child abuse and neglect. Data were audiorecorded and analyzed. The qualitative descriptive research method was used.

Results: Four themes of collaboration with NSS were identified: 1) Exchanging information with NSS to support mothers and their children; 2) Asking NSS to pay careful attention to the risk of child abuse while caring for children; 3) Sharing with NSS information about how to support mothers and their children so that NSS can work free from anxiety; 4) Obtaining information from NSS, and acting as a bridge among NSS, mothers and other organizations.

Conclusion: PHNs encouraged NSS to monitor and care for children and their mothers. PHNs took advantage of this monitoring capability in their activities. It is important for PHNs to communicate with NSS on how they can support mothers and children, and to act as a bridge among NSS, mothers and other organizations.