Citation

Haney SB. Pediatrics 2021; ePub(ePub): ePub.

Copyright

(Copyright © 2021, American Academy of Pediatrics)

DOI

10.1542/peds.2021-049930

PMID

unavailable

Abstract

Approximately 9 of every 1000 children in the United States are identified as victims of maltreatment, including neglect, physical abuse, emotional abuse, or sexual abuse.1 However, many cases of maltreatment are not identified,2 which has severe consequences for affected children.3 Although it is important to evaluate any child at risk for abuse, identifying risk can be challenging. In this issue of Pediatrics, Kisely et al4 evaluated whether siblings of children with suspected abuse are themselves at increased risk. These researchers followed a large cohort of sibling pairs in Australia. They found a 60-fold increase in abuse reports for siblings of children who had themselves been reported as abused previously. The risk was even greater when the mother was <20 years of age. The type of abuse (eg, physical, sexual, neglect) was often concordant between sibling pairs.

Sibling risk has previously been studied but not on the scale of this new publication. Lindberg et al5 collected data from almost 3000 children who were evaluated for physical abuse. Contacts, including siblings or others in the same environment (including day care) of physically abused children were at significantly increased risk for injury.5 This risk was even higher among twins.

Armed with the knowledge of the increased risk to siblings, medical providers and child welfare professionals should advocate for evaluations of these children at high risk...

Language: en