Child Abuse Prevention in a Pandemic—A Natural Experiment in Social Welfare Policy

• 2023

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• Kristine Campbell; Joanne Wood; Rachel Berger
PMID: 37870864DOI: https://doi.org/10.1001/jamapediatrics.2023.4525

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The article discusses a study on abusive head trauma (AHT) in children following COVID-19 shutdowns. It notes a temporary decline in AHT cases during the initial lockdowns but a subsequent rise back towards pre-pandemic levels among infants, who make up the majority of AHT cases. Contrary to predictions, overall child abuse referrals dropped during lockdowns, attributed to decreased exposure to mandated reporters like teachers. The article explores potential reasons for these trends, including social welfare policies like paid family leave and housing security that may have inadvertently prevented child abuse.

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Tags

Hazards: Everyday Emergency; Trauma; Violence

Audiences: Behavioral Health Professionals; Public Health Professionals

Emergency Management Stages: Mitigation; Recovery

Keywords: Child Abuse; Social Welfare; Pandemics

Institutions: American Medical Association (AMA)

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