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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This editorial 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

Focus Areas: Trauma; Violence

Keywords: Child Abuse; Child Welfare; Social Welfare; Pandemics

Emergency Management Stages: Mitigation; Recovery

Audiences: Behavioral Health Professionals; Public Health Professionals

Format: Journal Article

Media Type: Website

Institutions: American Medical Association (AMA)

Institution Type: Professional Association

Language: English

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