Disparities in the Medical Examination of Children in the Home of a Child with Suspected Physical Abuse

• NCJ Number: 228648
• Journal: Child Abuse and Neglect Volume: 33 Issue: 9 Dated: September 2009 Pages: 612-617
• Author(s): Kristine A. Campbell; Janet Squires; Lawrence J. Cook; Rachel P. Berger
• Date Published: September 2009
• Length: 6 pages
• Publication Format: Article
• Publication Type: Report (Study/Research)
• Language: English
• Country: United States of America

Annotation

This paper describes current practice in the medical examination of children identified in a home with a child with suspected physical abuse.

Abstract

At least 5 percent of all identified contacts had medical findings concerning for abuse at the time of referral of another child in the home. One-quarter of identified contacts received a medical examination, but the findings suggest social and racial disparities regarding which contact children receive such examinations. The results reflect a need to work towards the development of evidence-based protocols that will reduce disparities in reporting and investigation of children with possible exposure to abuse. Prior research suggests that contact children identified in the home of an abused index child are at high risk for subsequent abuse reports. This study is one of the first descriptive studies of the medical and social response to children identified in a home with a child reported for suspected physical abuse. It identifies factors associated with medical examination of a contact child after a report of suspected physical abuse in an index child. A review was conducted of all index children reported for suspected physical abuse from the Children's Hospital of Pittsburg and all contact children identified and examined in the course of the evaluation of the index child. Tables and references