NCJ Number
46311
Journal
JOURNAL OF THE IRISH MEDICAL ASSOCIATION Volume: 70 Issue: 3 Dated: (MARCH 19, 1977) Pages: 65-69
Date Published
1977
Length
5 pages
Annotation
SOCIAL AND MEDICAL CASE NOTES FROM A DUBLIN HOSPITAL ARE REVIEWED IN A STUDY AIMED AT DETERMINING THE INCIDENCE AND NATURE OF CHILD ABUSE IN THE COMMUNITY SERVED BY THE HOSPITAL.
Abstract
SOCIAL WORKERS AT OUR LADY'S HOSPITAL FOR SICK CHILDREN ROUTINELY SEE PATIENTS REFERRED BY HOSPITAL MEDICAL PERSONNEL AND BY OUTSIDE AGENCIES. ALL SOCIAL WORK RECORDS FOR 1971 THROUGH 1975 WERE REVIEWED, AND PATIENTS REFERRED WITH ONE OR MORE ABUSE-INDICATIVE FACTORS (POSSIBLE NONACCIDENTAL INJURY, POISONING AND OVERDOSE, BURNS, SEXUAL ABUSE, FAILURE TO THRIVE, UNEXPLAINED SLOW DEVELOPMENT) WERE EXTRACTED FOR FURTHER STUDY. OF 1,800 RECORDS, 141 (REPRESENTING 126 FAMILY UNITS) WERE SELECTED AS CONTAINING EVIDENCE OF ABUSE. THE STUDY GROUP WAS CATEGORIZED BY CERTAINTY OF EVIDENCE (SUSPECT OR PROVEN), NATURE OF ABUSE (ACTIVE OR PASSIVE), AND SEVERITY OF ABUSE (MILD, MODERATE, OR SEVERE). CHARACTERISTICS OF THE PATIENTS AND THEIR FAMILIES WITHIN THE CATEGORIES ARE ANALYZED AND COMPARED. THE ANALYSIS INDICATES THAT CHILD ABUSE ACCOUNTS FOR A MINIMUM OF 1 IN 700 CHILDHOOD HOSPITAL ADMISSIONS. ABUSED CHILDREN GENERALLY SHOW MULTIPLE FEATURES OF ABUSE, WITH PASSIVE ABUSE (UNEXPLAINED FAILURE TO THRIVE OR SLOW DEVELOPMENT, NEGLECT, UNDERNOURISHMENT, ACCIDENTAL INGESTION) BEING MORE COMMON. ABUSED CHILDREN ARE LIKELY TO BE UNDER 2 YEARS OF AGE. IN MOST CASES, ONLY ONE CHILD IN A FAMILY IS A VICTIM OF ABUSE. WHERE SIBLINGS ARE INVOLVED, PATTERNS OF ABUSE TEND TO BE SIMILAR FOR ALL. NO DEATHS WERE RECORDED IN THE STUDY GROUP. IMPLICATIONS OF THE FINDINGS ARE DISCUSSED. SUPPORTING DATA AND A LIST OF REFERENCES ARE INCLUDED. (LKM)