TY - JOUR PY - 2019// TI - Identifying populations at risk for child abuse: a nationwide analysis JO - Journal of pediatric surgery A1 - Quiroz, Hallie J. A1 - Parreco, Joshua A1 - Easwaran, Lavanya A1 - Willobee, Brent A1 - Ferrantella, Anthony A1 - Rattan, Rishi A1 - Thorson, Chad M. A1 - Sola, Juan E. A1 - Perez, Eduardo A. SP - ePub EP - ePub VL - ePub IS - ePub N2 - 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.

METHODS: The Nationwide Readmissions Database (NRD) was queried for all children hospitalized for abuse. Outcomes were previous admissions and diagnoses. χ² analysis was used; significance equals p < 0.05.

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).

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.

Copyright © 2019 Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.

Language: en

LA - en SN - 0022-3468 UR - http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.jpedsurg.2019.09.069 ID - ref1 ER -