Child maltreatment re-report among unsubstantiated but at-risk initial cases of child protective services in South Korea

Abstract

ABSTRACT This study aimed to examine the rate and the predictors of re-reports among unsubstantiated but at-risk cases reported to the child protective services (CPS) of South Korea. The study sample included 1,147 unsubstantiated cases reported to Korean CPS in 2014 and were followed-up by the end of 2016 for re-reports. The results showed that approximately 12% of the sample were re-reported, and 9.6% were re-reported and substantiated. The higher risk of re-report was associated with welfare receipt and economic difficulty. Specific suggestions were discussed to reduce the high level of re-report rate among unsubstantiated, but at-risk cases.