The number of pediatric trauma patients who were suspected victims of child abuse tripled during COVID-19 pandemic stay-at-home orders, suggests an analysis of 9 level I pediatric trauma centers presented at the virtual American Academy of Pediatrics National Conference & Exhibition.

“For school-aged children sequestered at home by the pandemic, increased nonaccidental trauma may reflect the absence of normal safeguards provided by the educational system, potentially leaving a vulnerable population at risk,” wrote Amelia Collings, MD, the author of the abstract and Midwest Pediatric Surgery Consortium research fellow. “Particularly in times of public health crisis, maintaining systems of protection for children remains essential.”

The study collected trauma registry data from the 9 pediatric trauma centers for the period of March through September 2020 and compared it with the same period for the years 2016 through 2019. In all, 39,331 pediatric trauma patients were included in the analysis. Among them, 2064 were suspected victims of child abuse.

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During the pre-pandemic years, nonaccidental child injuries among children 5 years and older averaged 36 between March and September, the comparison showed. In contrast, 103 school-aged children presented with such injuries over the time period in 2020.

The stress of the pandemic, including financial strain and physical distancing, combined with a lack of safeguards likely contributed to the increase in abuse, researchers suspect.

“The findings of our study may reflect the difference in how schools and daycares are viewed. In many areas, daycares were considered essential businesses and remained open during the shutdown. It is possible this is why we didn’t see a large change in suspected abuse rates in the younger age group,” said Dr Collings. “However, with older children out of school and many parents financially vulnerable during this time, family dynamics may have escalated to oftentimes untenable situations.

“We need to be able to provide support for these families and safeguard against feelings of desperation.”

References

COVID-19 stay at home orders brought uptick in child abuse. News release. American Academy of Pediatrics; October 7, 2021. Accessed October 28, 2021.

Collings A. Impact of ‘stay-at-home’ orders on non-accidental trauma: a multi-institutional study. Abstract presented at: American Academy of Pediatrics National Conference & Exhibition; October 9, 2021; Virtual