Newswise — A survey by Psychologists at the University of Birmingham, UK, has found that approximately 27,000 children under three are institutionalised in residential care across Europe and that there is no difference in the number of institutionalised children between Western and Eastern Europe.

The project, carried out by researchers at the Centre for Forensic and Family Psychology, surveyed 31 countries across Europe and identified the number and characteristics of children under three placed in residential care institutions without their parents.

Professor Kevin Browne, Director of the Centre, says, 'The study has revealed that Western and Eastern Europe have approximately the same proportion of institutionalised children under the age of three. One point of interest was that, while the UK and some other countries have a policy to provide foster homes and not institutionalise children under three, the survey has discovered that13 countries have more than 2 children in every 1,000 under three in residential care.

'Also the amount of inter-country adoption, rather than foster care and national adoption practiced by some countries should generate concerns for both donor and recipient countries.

Dr Catherine Hamilton-Giachritsis, the lead investigator, said 'It is worrying that there is such a significant number of children under three in care, when it has been proved that depriving a child of a parent and the subsequent neglect and damage this causes is equivalent to violence to a young child.'

The team found that, when comparing the reasons for babies being taken into institutions, there are significant differences between Western and Eastern Europe. In Western Europe, the vast majority (69%) of children were placed in residential care institutions because of abuse and neglect; 4% due to abandonment, 4% because of disability and 23% for social reasons, such as parents in prison. No biological orphans (i.e. no living parents) were institutionalised. By contrast, in Eastern Europe, only 14% of children were placed in institutions due to abuse or neglect; 32% were abandoned; 23% because of disability; 25% were social 'orphans' placed because of family ill-health and incapacity; and 6% were true biological orphans. Overall, children were institutionalised in Eastern Europe because of abandonment and disability, whereas in Western Europe it was mainly for abuse and neglect.

The report also states that out of 19 million children under the age of three in 31 European countries, on average 14 in every 10,000 have been living in institutions for more than three months, although in Western Europe one in five may have a parent or primary care giver resident with them.

This survey is the first international attempt across Europe to measure and compare the reasons, number and characteristics of children subject to early institutionalisation and privation of parenting.

Notes to Editors1. The findings of the report will be announced at a conference organised by the University of Birmingham's Centre for Forensic and Family Psychology held at the World Health Organisation Regional Office for Europe in Copenhagen on Friday 19 March 2004.

2. The project was sponsored by the European Union Daphne Programme and the World Health Organisation.

3. Western Europe consists of EU Member States and European Economic Area; Eastern Europe consists of EU Accession and negotiating countries.