Temporal factors and the incidence of physical abuse in young children: decreased nonaccidental trauma during child abuse prevention month

Thomas, Neal J.; Shaffer, Michele L.; Rzucidlo, Susan; Shirk, Beverly J.; Dias, Mark S.

doi:10.1016/j.jpedsurg.2007.05.032

Cited by 14 publications

(8 citation statements)

References 14 publications

(14 reference statements)

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“…6 The present study did not find a strict seasonal incidence, although there was an increased incidence during the holiday months of October-December suggesting that the added stress of the holidays may lead to more parental and caregiver frustration and a greater frequency of AHT during this time. Although a previous study 21 found a decrease in overall physical abuse during April (Child Abuse Prevention Month), no such decline in AHT was seen in the present study.…”

Section: Discussioncontrasting

confidence: 99%

Demographics of abusive head trauma in the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania

Kesler¹,

Dias²,

Shaffer

et al. 2008

PED

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Object The aim of this study was to characterize the prevalence and demographic features of abusive head trauma (AHT) among infants and children < 36 months of age in Pennsylvania. Methods The authors included all cases of substantiated AHT involving children < 36 months of age in Pennsylvania between 1996 and 2002 that had been reported to a statewide registry. Demographic information was derived from child abuse reports and birth certificates; the study cohort was contrasted with all infants born in Pennsylvania during the same period. Results The study identified 327 cases. The incidence was 14.7 cases (95% confidence interval 13.1–16.5) per 100,000 person-years for the first 2 years of life with a higher incidence during the 1st year (26.0 cases per 100,000 person-years) than the 2nd year (3.4 cases per 100,000 person-years). The incidence was similar among metropolitan, non-metropolitan, and rural counties. Significantly more cases occurred during the holiday months (October–December). The median age of victims was 4.1 months. Both victims and perpetrators were more commonly male (58.4% of victims, and 70% of identified perpetrators). Compared with the entire population of Pennsylvania parents, the parents of the study cohort were more likely to be younger, less educated, and unmarried. Both mothers and fathers were more often African-American and fathers more often Hispanic. Finally, mothers more often smoked during pregnancy, sought prenatal care later in the pregnancy, and delivered low birth weight infants. Conclusions This population-based study of abusive head injuries throughout an entire state adds significantly to the growing knowledge about this condition. The results suggests that families of infants with abusive head injuries have significantly different demographic features compared with the general population, although which of these variables is independently significant cannot be ascertained from this study and require further investigation.

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Section: Discussioncontrasting

confidence: 99%

Demographics of abusive head trauma in the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania

Kesler¹,

Dias²,

Shaffer

et al. 2008

PED

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“…Previous analyses using data from the same period as the current study found that the rate of partner abuse significantly increased on Super Bowl Sunday (i.e., McCarthy et al, 2014), which may contribute to an increased risk for parents to emotionally abuse their child. Consistent with other research (e.g., Thomas et al, 2007), we observed decreases for all types of child maltreatment on weekend days (relative to weekdays) and decreases in some types of child maltreatment on some holidays. Although speculative, these decreases may indicate that holidays involve time spent with extended family, increased sharing of caregiving responsibilities, and increased social support-all of which may be factors that buffer against child maltreatment, even if the amount of time that parents and children spend together is greater on these holidays (e.g., Coohey & Braun, 1997;Stith et al, 2009).…”

Section: Discussionsupporting

confidence: 91%

When Does Child Maltreatment Occur? Daily Variations in Child Maltreatment Among Families Served by the U.S. Air Force Family Advocacy Program

McCarthy

Miron

Milner

et al. 2016

Military Behavioral Health

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The current study examined temporal variations in child maltreatment within a U.S. Air Force database. Relative to comparison days, child maltreatment rates generally decreased on weekends, Thanksgiving, and the first days of a month, whereas rates of specific maltreatment types differed on some holidays: Physical abuse decreased on New Year's Eve and Memorial Day; neglect decreased on Christmas Eve, Christmas Day, and Independence Day; and emotional abuse decreased on Memorial Day and increased on Super Bowl Sunday. Future research should explore the factors responsible for these patterns of child maltreatment to inform policies aimed at reducing child maltreatment.

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“…Findings regarding seasonality of AHT have been mixed. One study found that children aged <2 years were less likely to suffer AHT during April and more likely to be injured during August and October 29. Others have shown a peak hospitalisation rate for AHT during the Thanksgiving/Christmas holiday months (October–December), especially among children aged <3 years8 or during the summer months among children aged 0–4 years 30.…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…Others have shown a peak hospitalisation rate for AHT during the Thanksgiving/Christmas holiday months (October–December), especially among children aged <3 years8 or during the summer months among children aged 0–4 years 30. Two of these studies used state trauma registry data8 29 and the third30 used data collected prospectively in paediatric intensive care units in the UK. We found a slightly higher hospitalisation rate for non-AHT among children aged <2 years during the summer months.…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Characteristics of non-fatal abusive head trauma among children in the USA, 2003–2008: application of the CDC operational case definition to national hospital inpatient data

Parks

Sugerman

et al. 2012

Inj Prev

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To reduce the burden of AHT in the USA, a preventable public health problem, concerted prevention efforts targeting populations at risk should be implemented. This report demonstrates a model procedure for using the new CDC definition for public health surveillance and research purposes. Such findings can be used to inform parents and providers about AHT (eg, dangers of shaking, strategies for managing infant crying) as well as to monitor better the impact of prevention strategies over time.

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Temporal factors and the incidence of physical abuse in young children: decreased nonaccidental trauma during child abuse prevention month

Cited by 14 publications

References 14 publications

Demographics of abusive head trauma in the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania

Demographics of abusive head trauma in the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania

When Does Child Maltreatment Occur? Daily Variations in Child Maltreatment Among Families Served by the U.S. Air Force Family Advocacy Program

Characteristics of non-fatal abusive head trauma among children in the USA, 2003–2008: application of the CDC operational case definition to national hospital inpatient data

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