Iceland launches screening for child abuse
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In October, school nurses in Iceland will begin screening students in seventh and ninth grades for signs of abuse.
This initiative is part of a larger plan involving 25 actions the government announced in 2024 to address violence against children, including the opening of a new child abuse reception center in August. Health Minister Alma Möller describes abuse as a societal problem and explains the screenings will use existing resources, conversations between healthcare professionals and children in familiar settings.
During a pilot program conducted in five schools this spring, 14% of children reported experiencing abuse, and 4% reported recent abuse. Möller emphasized the importance of a clear process for responding when children disclose abuse, allowing for early intervention and appropriate care within the healthcare system.
A multidisciplinary child abuse and trauma team began work at Landspítali National University Hospital last winter, and the child abuse reception center at Barnaspítali Children’s Hospital opened in August to serve children referred from various sources, including the new school screenings. Plans are underway to move the reception center to Bryndísarhlíð, where a center for trauma victims will be established for both children and adults.
