Reappraisal of the Frequency of Child Abuse Seen in Pediatric Emergency Rooms

• NCJ Number: 106036
• Journal: Child Abuse and Neglect Volume: 11 Issue: 2 Dated: (1987) Pages: 193-200
• Author(s): I B Pless; A D Sibald; M A Smith; M D Russell
• Date Published: 1987
• Length: 8 pages
• Publication Format: Article
• Publication Type: Program/Project Evaluation
• Language: English
• Country: United States of America

Annotation

This study determined the frequency of abuse and neglect among infants and preschool children in the emergency department of a large children's hospital.

Abstract

Of the 2,211 accident patients evaluated in the 18-week study, 39 were evaluated systematically and referred to a child protection team for investigation. A total of 28, or 1.3 percent, were presumed to be victims of abuse or neglect. The usual estimate of abused children in 10 percent. The marked discrepancy between this result and previous findings suggests that either important variations exist in the rates of abuse and neglect in different populations or 10 percent is an overestimation. 3 tables, 1 graph, and 18 references. (Author abstract modified)