Child maltreatment and harsh parenting in Canada during the COVID-19 pandemic: a scoping review of the epidemiological evidence, methodological and data gaps, and recommendations for strengthening public health data

Background The COVID-19 pandemic caused widespread disruptions to social relationships and caregiving responsibilities, potentially modifying risks for child maltreatment (CM) and harsh parenting (HP). However, the impact of the pandemic on the epidemiology of CM and HP is unclear. Objective The objectives of this scoping review were to summarize evidence on the epidemiology of CM and HP in Canada during the COVID-19 pandemic, assess the quality of the included evidence to support the interpretation of the findings, and synthesize published recommendations to strengthen data. Methods We conducted a systematic search of five bibliographic databases and Statistics Canada's website for relevant Canadian studies published between January 1, 2020 and July 4, 2024. We summarized the findings with descriptive statistics and a narrative review, and assessed study quality using an adapted version of the Evidence-Based Social Services Critical Thinking Tool. Results Twenty-seven studies were included; 81.5% reported on CM. Administrative data indicated fewer referrals to child protection services and hospital visits, but increases in police-reported family violence against children. The quality of studies was negatively impacted by non-representative samples, unstandardized measures, and limited use of pre-pandemic baseline data. Conclusions Due to the lack of reliable and continuous data about CM/HP, governments and researchers in Canada collaborated to improve data infrastructure and better understand the pandemic's impact on the health and wellbeing of children and youth. New data sources were developed to enhance the quality of CM/HP measures and support ongoing public health surveillance. Sustained collaboration among interest-holders and continued efforts to strengthen existing data are necessary to assess the pandemic's long-term effects and prepare to monitor the impacts of future public health emergencies.