Alliance for Pandemic Preparedness

January 4, 2021

Emergency Visits and Hospitalizations for Child Abuse During the COVID-19 Pandemic

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A multicenter study of US children’s hospitals found declines in child physical abuse (CPA) encounters during the COVID-19 pandemic, with the severity of the encounters similar to those in prior years. There was a decline in the overall volume of emergency department visits in children’s hospitals in March and a decline in CPA encounters at the same time. The authors note that study findings may reflect true decreases in CPA, or may instead reflect compromised infrastructure for detecting CPA or delayed effects of the pandemic on CPA. 

Kaiser et al. (Dec 30, 2020). Emergency Visits and Hospitalizations for Child Abuse During the COVID-19 Pandemic. Pediatrics. https://doi.org/10.1542/peds.2020-038489