A multicentre and prospective study of suspected cases of child physical abuse

In this multicentre prospective study, the authors aim to describe the social and clinical characteristics of a population of children who arrived with a suspicion of physical abuse at five Emergency Services across France and who underwent clinical and thorough radiological screening according to a...

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Bibliographic Details
Published in:International journal of legal medicine 2006-03, Vol.120 (2), p.73-78
Main Authors: Martrille, L, Cattaneo, C, Dorandeu, A, Baccino, E
Format: Article
Language:English
Subjects:
Age Distribution
Child
Child abuse & neglect
Child Abuse - diagnosis
Child Abuse - statistics & numerical data
Child, Preschool
Children & youth
Disabled Children - statistics & numerical data
Emergency medical care
Emergency Service, Hospital
Emergency services
Female
Forensic Medicine
France - epidemiology
Humans
Infant
Life Sciences
Male
Patient Admission - statistics & numerical data
Pediatrics
Premature Birth - epidemiology
Prospective Studies
Sex crimes
Sex Distribution
Sexual abuse
Surveys and Questionnaires
Trauma
Wounds and Injuries - epidemiology
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Summary:In this multicentre prospective study, the authors aim to describe the social and clinical characteristics of a population of children who arrived with a suspicion of physical abuse at five Emergency Services across France and who underwent clinical and thorough radiological screening according to a common predetermined protocol. A total of 185 cases of children seen at the Emergency units of five French hospitals over a 4-year period was assessed via a specific protocol and included in this study. The results of this study show socio-cultural factors consistent with previous reports on abused populations, and in particular give interesting data concerning the type and severity of lesions present, on the whole, in 80% of the population studied. In particular this study revealed a high prevalence (30%) of bone fractures. Apart from giving a perspective on the French population, this study adds some information to the too few preexisting studies of its kind-and stresses the importance of effective identification of possible cases of child abuse and of a thorough and sensitive screening protocol.
ISSN:0937-9827
1437-1596
DOI:10.1007/s00414-005-0006-5