Peer-reviewed article
Conceptual frameworks for programs addressing violence against children: a scoping review
Cibele Monteiro Macedo, Emiko Yoshikawa Egry ·
Summary
Written by AI, not yet AICS's view · claude-haiku-4-5-20251001This scoping review examined 24 studies about programs in primary health care that address violence against children in Brazil. The review found that most programs focus on three main approaches: home visitation, support for children exposed to violence, and parenting development. The researchers noted that while these programs were well-structured, none of them clearly explained the conceptual frameworks that guided their design. Most programs used a multi-causal understanding of how violence develops but did not elaborate on their theoretical foundations.
Key points
- Three strategic program approaches were identified: Home Visitation, Children Exposed to Violence, and Parenting Development
- Most programs were published in the 2000s
- No study explicitly explained the conceptual frameworks guiding the programs
- Programs adopted a multi-causal concept to understand violence
- Programs were primarily focused at the intervention level rather than prevention or structural change
Limitations
This review identifies what programs exist but does not evaluate whether they are effective or produce better outcomes for children. The review does not provide information about implementation quality, reach, or impact on child well-being.
Abstract
OBJECTIVE: Map the conceptual frameworks for programs addressing violence against children developed in primary health care. METHOD: This is a scoping review that followed the methodological recommendations of the Joanna Briggs Institute. A reference manager and qualitative analysis software were used for data management and analysis. RESULTS: 1,346 studies were pre-selected and analyzed. The final sample consisted of 24 studies, mostly published in the 2000s. Three strategic actions were identified in programs: Home Visitation, Children Exposed to Violence, and Parenting Development, most of them focused on the level of intervention. No study explained the conceptual frameworks guiding the programs. CONCLUSION: Mapped programs were well structured and essential for addressing domestic violence against children. They mainly adopted the multi-causal concept to understand the health-disease process, which was restricted to overcoming the contradictions of violence.