Adverse childhood experiences among high-risk children living in socially vulnerable areas.

OBJECTIVES

to identify the occurrence of adverse childhood experiences (ACEs) among children classified as high-risk at birth.

METHODS

this quantitative, cross-sectional, and descriptive study was conducted within an Intermunicipal Health Consortium in Paraná from September 2022 to February 2023, involving 45 caregivers of high-risk children. Data collection took place at the participants' homes using three questionnaires. The results were analyzed descriptively, based on the theory of the adverse childhood events tree.

RESULTS

the prevalence of adverse childhood events was 18.6%. Regarding the types of events, 64.3% reported violence; 28% reported parental divorce; 22.2% reported substance abuse by caregivers; 73.3% experienced difficulty acquiring basic necessities; 62.2% were unemployed and/or had low income; 55.6% lived in conflict-prone areas; and 44.4% lacked access to sewage systems.

CONCLUSIONS

adverse childhood events are multifactorial and cross-sectoral, posing significant threats to child development. The 2030 Agenda proposes dimensions for addressing this issue by investing in childhood.