Epidemiology of Abusive Abdominal Trauma Hospitalizations in United States Children

• NCJ Number: 238313
• Journal: Child Abuse & Neglect Volume: 36 Issue: 2 Dated: February 2012 Pages: 142-148
• Author(s): Wendy Gwirtzman Lane; Howard Dubowitz; Patricia Langenberg; Patricia Dischinger
• Date Published: February 2012
• Length: 7 pages
• Grant Number(s): 1K23HD055515-01A1
• Sponsoring Agency: National Institute of Child Health and Human Development (NICHD)
• Publication Format: Article
• Publication Type: Research (Applied/Empirical)
• Language: English
• Country: United States of America

Annotation

This study examined the prevalence of hospitalizations from abusive abdominal trauma in U.S. children age 9 and younger and identified demographic characteristics associated with children at risk for this type of abuse.

Abstract

Findings from the study include the following: for children under 1 year of age, the incidence of abusive abdominal trauma (AAT) resulting in hospitalization was 17.7 cases per million in 2006; the rates of AAT were higher for males in all age groups as compared to females, and for children insured by Medicaid as compared to those with private insurance; and the liver was the most commonly injured organ as a result of AAT (64 percent), followed by kidneys (19 percent) and the stomach/intestines (12 percent). This study examined the prevalence of hospitalizations from AAT in U.S. children age 9 and younger and identified demographic characteristics associated with children at risk for this type of abuse. Data for the study were obtained from a secondary analysis of a national hospitalization database. The study measured the frequency and rate of hospitalizations resulting from AAT as identified by specific diagnostics codes. The findings indicate that children at highest risk for AAT are infants, and the gender and poverty are significant risk factors for AAT. Tables and references