Epidemiology of abusive abdominal trauma hospitalizations in United States children

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Wendy Gwirtzman Lane1, Howard Dubowitz, Patricia Langenberg

  • 1Department of Epidemiology and Public Health, University of Maryland School of Medicine, Baltimore, MD, USA.

Child Abuse & Neglect
|March 9, 2012
PubMed

Insights

Infants are at the highest risk for abusive abdominal trauma (AAT) hospitalizations, with young age, male gender, and poverty being significant risk factors. This study highlights critical demographic data for understanding and preventing AAT in children.

Area of Science:

  • Pediatric Trauma
  • Child Abuse Epidemiology
  • Public Health

Background:

  • Abusive abdominal trauma (AAT) is a severe form of child maltreatment.
  • Understanding incidence and risk factors is crucial for prevention and intervention.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To estimate the incidence of AAT hospitalizations in US children aged 0-9 years.
  • To identify demographic characteristics associated with the highest risk for AAT.

Main Methods:

  • Analysis of secondary data from the 2003 and 2006 Kids' Inpatient Database (KID).
  • Utilized ICD-9-CM and E-codes to identify AAT hospitalizations.
  • Examined hospitalization rates by age, insurance status, and organ injury.

Main Results:

  • Infants (<1 year) had the highest AAT hospitalization rates (17.7 per million in 2006).
  • Over 25% of abdominal trauma in infants was abusive.
  • Males and children with Medicaid insurance had higher AAT rates than females and privately insured children.
  • The liver was the most frequently injured organ (64%).

Conclusions:

  • Contrary to expert opinion, infants, not toddlers, exhibit the highest AAT hospitalization rates.
  • Young age, male gender, and indicators of poverty are significant risk factors for AAT.
  • Findings underscore the need for targeted prevention strategies for high-risk populations.
Abstract

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