NCJ Number
240813
Journal
Child Abuse & Neglect Volume: 36 Issue: 6 Dated: June 2012 Pages: 542-551
Date Published
June 2012
Length
10 pages
Annotation
This study investigated the relationship between children/youth permanently removed from their parental home because of substantiated maltreatment and higher rates of first presentation to hospital emergency rooms for suicide-related behavior.
Abstract
The major finding from the study was that youth, both boys and girls, who were removed from their parental home due to substantiated cases of maltreatment were five times more likely to have a first emergency department (ED) presentation for suicide-related behaviors than youth with no substantiated cases of maltreatment. The primary aim of the study was to determine the rate of first presentation to an ED for suicide-related behaviors (SRBs) in order to design and develop effective preventive interventions. Data for the study were obtained from a sample of children/youth (n=4,683) in Ontario, Canada, who were permanently removed from their parental home due to substantiated cases of maltreatment. After controlling for demographic characteristics and prior health service use, regression analyses were used to determine rate at which these youth first presented at an ED for SRBs. The findings from the study indicate that children/youth permanently removed from their parent's home due to substantiated cases of maltreatment are at an increased risk for first presentation at an emergency department for suicide-related behaviors. Implications for prevention and intervention strategies to reduce the occurrence of child maltreatment are discussed. Tables, figures, and references