Measurement of Infant Neglect: A Systematic Review

Infant neglect has substantial adverse effects on individual health throughout the lifespan. Prior to establishing effective interventions to reduce infant neglect, identifying reliable measurement tools applicable to the specific culture and context is necessary. Systematic review for measurement tools could provide assistance in this process, but such reviews are sparse. This study systematically identified all infant neglect measurement tools in the English and Chinese literature and reviewed them for the psychometric soundness, content, feasibility and the context in which they have been used (e.g., setting, culture). Guided by PRISMA and following a published protocol, we searched four databases to identify measurement tools of infant neglect. We conducted a quality assessment based on the latest COSMIN guidelines and a critical analysis of the characteristics of measurement tools. We reviewed both English and Chinese databases and this review identified 48 studies and evaluated 15 measurement tools for infant neglect. In general, the tools are psychometrically sound but differ in content and the context of application. Only three tools are designed for neglect and one tool is specifically designed for assessing infant neglect. Carefully selecting the optimal measurement tools for infant neglect is necessary because these tools differ in item content, reporter, and administrative setting.