Hospitalisations for physical abuse in infants and children less than 5 years, 2013–2021: a multinational cohort study using administrative data from five European countries
Catherine Quantin , Jonathan Cottenet , Colleen Chambers , Natasha Kennedy , Sadhbh Whelan , Geoff Debelle , Diogo Lamela , Ulugbek Nurmatov , Donna O'Leary , Christian Torp-Pedersen , Sinéad Brophy , Marcella Broccia , Ruth Gilbert , Troels Græsholt-Knudsen , Laura Elizabeth Cowley
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引用次数: 0
Abstract
Background
Child physical abuse (CPA) is a global public health problem associated with lifelong negative consequences, yet reliable epidemiologic data are lacking. This multinational cohort study analyses trends in CPA hospitalisations from 2013 to 2021.
Methods
We used medico-administrative databases to identify children aged one month to five years hospitalised in Denmark, England, France, Ireland, and Wales. We identified CPA using a validated algorithm based on ICD-10 codes. We calculated the number, proportion, and incidence rate of children hospitalised for CPA, and the number and proportion of total hospitalisations for CPA, by year and age group (<1 and <5). We determined the proportion of CPA hospitalisations recorded using different ICD-10 codes, by country.
Findings
The pooled incidence rate of infants <1 year hospitalised for CPA was stable over time (around 42/100,000 per year), ranging on average from 33 to 48/100,000 between countries. The pooled proportion of infant hospitalisations for CPA was around 0.17% (N = 750) per year (range 0.15–0.21%, N range 674–785), increasing significantly during the COVID-19 pandemic in 2020 (0.21%, N = 674). In children <5, the incidence rate (around 18/100,000 per year) and proportion of CPA hospitalisations (around 0.11% per year (N = 1600), range 0.10–0.14% (N range 1341–1657) were lower than in infants, but also increased in 2020 (0.14%, N = 1341). There were national differences in the distribution of ICD-10 codes used to record CPA and differences in year-on-year trends between countries.
Interpretation
Comparing temporal trends in CPA hospitalisations between countries is feasible. Hospital data are one of several valuable sources for CPA surveillance.
Funding
European COST Action EURO-CAN. European Union (HORIZON Europe SERENA project).
期刊介绍:
The Lancet Regional Health – Europe, a gold open access journal, is part of The Lancet's global effort to promote healthcare quality and accessibility worldwide. It focuses on advancing clinical practice and health policy in the European region to enhance health outcomes. The journal publishes high-quality original research advocating changes in clinical practice and health policy. It also includes reviews, commentaries, and opinion pieces on regional health topics, such as infection and disease prevention, healthy aging, and reducing health disparities.