For vulnerable families, continued postnatal care, provided by family midwives, is associated with improved maternal care and parent-child relationship

摘要

In Germany over the last few decades, the prevention of child abuse and neglect has been brought to the public eye through child deaths due to maltreatment not diagnosed at an early stage, or acted upon by professionals. Although German law from November 2000 states that children are legally guaranteed an upbringing without violence, 10-15% of parents still use severe physical punishment, leading to deaths each month of nine children under the age of 15 years, with infants most at risk. FMs now have a role to safeguard infants born to vulnerable families, offering home visitation through pregnancy to 1 year postnatally.