Costs of Childhood Physical Abuse: Comparing Inflicted and Unintentional Traumatic Brain Injuries

Abstract

The findings from multivariate models of TC and length of stay corroborate the simpler univariate findings of earlier studies. By focusing on the impact of those cases of child abuse that lead to a specific, severe clinical entity (traumatic brain injury), we isolated a significant economic impact of abuse on health care expenditures for injury.

Analysis of National Empirical Data on the Characteristics and Trends of Injury Among Taiwan’s Victims of Hospitalized Child Abuse Between 1997 and 2009

“…This finding was in agreement with many studies conducted in the United States that have found intracranial injury (Bullock et al, 2009;Chang et al, 2004;DiScala et al, 2000;Libby et al, 2003); fractures of the skull, neck, and trunk (Bullock et al, 2009;Chang et al, 2004); shaken infant syndrome (Rovi et al, 2004); and thoracic and abdominal trauma (DiScala et al, 2000) to be common injuries among child abuse victims.…”

“…The analysis of hospitalization costs in this study revealed that in Taiwan, each abused child had an average cost of NT$99,851.74 or US$3,120 (based on an exchange rate of US$1 to NT$32). In contrast, each abused child in the United States had a hospitalization cost of US$15,000 to US$25,000 (Bullock et al, 2009;Libby, Sills, Thurston, & Orton, 2003;Rovi et al, 2004), 4.81-8.01 times that of the cost in Taiwan. This divergence may reflect the differences in the two countries' medical insurance and payment systems.…”

“…This divergence may reflect the differences in the two countries' medical insurance and payment systems. Furthermore, many foreign studies have shown that abused children are likely to accrue both longer hospital stays and higher medical costs than their nonabused peers (Bullock et al, 2009;DiScala et al, 2000;Libby et al, 2003;Rovi et al, 2004). The possible cause of this divergence may be the injury severity and medical history (such as congenital diseases) of the abused children as well as the possibility that abused children might require further observation and assessment, thus extending their hospital stays (Rovi et al, 2004).…”

Association of Injury Visits in Children and Child Maltreatment Reports

“…Although the effect size in the race and age subgroups is relatively small, our findings are consistent with current and historical literature that has clearly documented the role of age (particularly infants) and non-Caucasian race in increasing the chances a child would be reported for maltreatment (18,36 -40). The increased likelihood of maltreatment injuries among children with public (Medicaid) medical insurance also has been documented (37,38).…”

The Pediatrician's Role in Child Maltreatment Prevention

“…A great deal is known about the factors that contribute to the abuse of a child and about those that may prove protective. Despite the progress made, the problem remains widespread and serious in its costs, whether reckoned in dollars [2][3][4] or human potential. 5 Child maltreatment, however, is a preventable problem, and pediatricians have a role in its prevention.…”