@article{ref1,
title="Identifying populations at risk for child abuse: a nationwide analysis",
journal="Journal of pediatric surgery",
year="2019",
author="Quiroz, Hallie J. and Parreco, Joshua and Easwaran, Lavanya and Willobee, Brent and Ferrantella, Anthony and Rattan, Rishi and Thorson, Chad M. and Sola, Juan E. and Perez, Eduardo A.",
volume="ePub",
number="ePub",
pages="ePub-ePub",
abstract="PURPOSE: Child abuse is a national, often hidden, epidemic. The study objective was to determine at-risk populations that have been previously hospitalized prior to their admission for child abuse. <br><br>METHODS: The Nationwide Readmissions Database (NRD) was queried for all children hospitalized for abuse. Outcomes were previous admissions and diagnoses. χ<sup>2</sup> analysis was used; significance equals p < 0.05. <br><br>RESULTS: 31,153 children were hospitalized for abuse (half owing to physical abuse) during the study period. 11% (n = 3487) of these children had previous admissions (one in three to a different hospital), while 3% (n = 1069) had multiple hospitalizations. 60% of prior admissions had chronic conditions, and 12% had traumatic injuries. Children with chronic conditions were more likely to have sexual abuse (89% vs. 57%, p < 0. 001) and emotional abuse (75% vs. 60%, p < 0. 01). 25% of chronic diagnoses were psychiatric, who were also more likely to have sexual and emotional abuse (47% vs. 5.5% and 10% vs. 1%, all p < 0. 001). <br><br>CONCLUSION: This study uncovers a hidden population of children with past admissions for chronic conditions, especially psychiatric diagnoses that are significantly associated with certain types of abuse. Improved measures to accurately identify at-risk children must be developed to prevent future childhood abuse and trauma. LEVEL OF EVIDENCE: Level III. TYPE OF STUDY: Retrospective comparative study.<br><br>Copyright © 2019 Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.<p /> <p>Language: en</p>",
language="en",
issn="0022-3468",
doi="10.1016/j.jpedsurg.2019.09.069",
url="http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.jpedsurg.2019.09.069"
}