Impact of COVID-19 pandemic on child abuse and neglect: A cross-sectional study in a French Child Advocacy Center

Massiot, L.; Launay, Élise; Fleury, Juliette; Poullaouec, C.; Lemesle, M.; Guen, Christèle Gras‐Le; Vabres, N.

doi:10.1016/j.chiabu.2021.105443

Cited by 13 publications

(12 citation statements)

References 22 publications

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“…Also, Sidpra et al 16 reported an increase of 1500% in the incidence of AHT in children. Other studies reported no change in the incidence of CAN [23][24][25][26] or a decrease up to 50% in emergency department visits related to CAN 21 and 50% decrease of children with AHT 20 (eTable 1 in the Supplement). This discrepancy can be secondary to the specific situation of the Paris metropolitan area (a region heavily affected by the COVID-19 pandemic, with compulsory mitigation measures, and with the majority of the population living in small collective housing).…”

Section: Jama Network Open | Pediatricsmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…The discrepancy can also be secondary to the definitions and design of these previous studies. Indeed, these studies 20,[22][23][24]26 compared the incidence of CAN or AHT during the second and/or third quarter of 2020 with the prepandemic period but did not explore the incidence of AHT in 2021, making it impossible to assess the medium-term consequences of the pandemic and the mitigation measures taken. The increase in mortality could be explained by an increased delay between the trauma and the first medical examination, 50 leading to untreated seizures and additional brain damage.…”

Section: Jama Network Open | Pediatricsmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…9,12 Concerns were raised early regarding a potentially marked increase in CAN (notably AHT) in association with the COVID-19 pandemic and related containment and mitigation measures. [13][14][15] Studies evaluating the association of the COVID-19 pandemic and containment and mitigation measures with the incidence and severity of CAN and AHT led to conflicting conclusions, varying from a significant increase, [16][17][18][19] a significant decrease, [20][21][22] or no change [23][24][25][26] (eTable 1 in the Supplement). These contradictory findings may be secondary to regional variability in the prepandemic epidemiology of CAN and social programs and the COVID-19 pandemic intensity and containment and mitigation measures taken.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

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Abusive Head Trauma in Infants During the COVID-19 Pandemic in the Paris Metropolitan Area

et al. 2022

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IMPORTANCEThe COVID-19 pandemic and the containment and mitigation measures taken were feared to be associated with increased child abuse. OBJECTIVE To investigate the trend of abusive head trauma (AHT) incidence and severity in infants during the COVID-19 pandemic. DESIGN, SETTING, AND PARTICIPANTSIn a time-series analysis of a longitudinal, populationbased, cohort study, all consecutive cases of AHT in infants younger than 12 months old referred between January 2017 and December 2021 to Necker Hospital for Sick Children, the single regional pediatric neurosurgery center for the Paris metropolitan area, were included. AHT was defined as 1 or more subdural hemorrhage and a positive multidisciplinary evaluation after a social, clinical, biological, and radiological workup. Data were analyzed from January to March 2022. MAIN OUTCOMES AND MEASURESThe primary outcome was the monthly incidence of AHT, which was analyzed using Poisson regression modeling. Secondary outcomes included mortality and severe morbidity and were studied with logistic and linear regressions. The monthly incidence of neurosurgical interventions for hydrocephalus was used as a control series. RESULTS Among the 99 included infants with AHT (median [IQR] age, 4 [3-6] months; 64 boys[65%]), 86 of 99 (87%) had bridging vein thrombosis, 74 of 99 (75%) had retinal hemorrhages, 23 of 72 (32%) had fractures, 26 of 99 (26%) had status epilepticus, 20 of 99 (20%) had skin injuries, 53 of 99 (54%) underwent neurosurgical interventions, and 13 of 99 (13%) died. Compared with the prepandemic period (2017-2019), AHT incidence was stable in 2020 (adjusted incidence rate ratio, 1.02; 95% CI, 0.59-1.77) and then significantly increased in 2021 (adjusted incidence rate ratio, 1.92; 95% CI, 1.23-2.99). The severity of AHT worsened in 2021 in terms of mortality (odds ratio 9.39; 95% CI, 1.88-47.00). Other secondary outcomes and the control series were not significantly modified. CONCLUSIONS AND RELEVANCEIn this cohort study, a marked increase in AHT incidence and severity occurred during the COVID-19 pandemic in the Paris metropolitan area. These results suggest the need for clinical awareness and preventive actions.

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Section: Jama Network Open | Pediatricsmentioning

confidence: 99%

Section: Jama Network Open | Pediatricsmentioning

confidence: 99%

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

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Abusive Head Trauma in Infants During the COVID-19 Pandemic in the Paris Metropolitan Area

et al. 2022

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“…Other researchers in several jurisdictions around the globe found that CM reports were affected by COVID-19, such as Bridgend, UK ( Rengasamy et al, 2022 ), North Carolina ( Machlin et al, 2022 ), France ( Massiot et al, 2022 ), and Korea ( Kim, 2022 ). These studies pinpoint the enormous impact of lockdowns on systems' ability to function, the worrisome increase of all risk factors for children combined with the resulting tremendous decrease in reports of CM has likely resulted in children who have not received the help of protection they need.…”

mentioning

confidence: 99%

“…The study from France ( Massiot et al, 2022 ) examines the reports made to child advocacy centers during the first lockdown. The authors highlight a decrease in both referrals to the centers and judicial activity (i.e., forensic examinations and child forensic interview recordings).…”

mentioning

confidence: 99%

Two years into COVID-19: What do we know so far about child maltreatment in times of a pandemic and what else should be explored?

Katz

Fallon

2022

Child Abuse & Neglect

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Impact of the COVID-19 Pandemic On Violence Against Children: A Narrative Review

Mojahed,

Mack,

Specht

et al. 2023

Curr Psychiatry Rep

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Purpose of Review The goal of this paper was to explore the different ways the COVID-19 pandemic has affected violence against children (VAC). Recent Findings Recent research of peer-reviewed articles using operational or survey data revealed the pandemic’s impact in terms of institutional responses, risk and mediating factors, changes in VAC dynamics, and a likely increase in child marriage. Summary Findings include a decrease in institutional responses, activities, and prevention case openings; an increased incidence of interparental intimate partner violence (IPV) witnessing cases, hospital admissions for suspected Abusive Head Trauma (AHT), other pediatric injuries, and sexual violence; a change in family conflict dynamics; and an estimated increase in child marriages. It also revealed mediating factors between the relationship of the pandemic and VAC (such as parental stress and mental health symptoms), as well as risk factors observed by service providers, which include the risk of mental health symptoms of both parents and children. Post-pandemic VAC research can be improved by utilizing operational or survey data in a meaningful way to be able to derive sound intervention approaches to diminish the pandemic’s impact on VAC and child marriage. We also propose for researchers to integrate child marriage into the definition of VAC.

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Impact of COVID-19 pandemic on child abuse and neglect: A cross-sectional study in a French Child Advocacy Center

Cited by 13 publications

References 22 publications

Abusive Head Trauma in Infants During the COVID-19 Pandemic in the Paris Metropolitan Area

Abusive Head Trauma in Infants During the COVID-19 Pandemic in the Paris Metropolitan Area

Two years into COVID-19: What do we know so far about child maltreatment in times of a pandemic and what else should be explored?

Impact of the COVID-19 Pandemic On Violence Against Children: A Narrative Review

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