Epidemiology and screening of intentional burns in children in a Dutch burn centre

Area of Science:

• Pediatric Burn Care
• Child Abuse and Neglect
• Forensic Pediatrics

Background:

• International incidence of non-accidental burns (NAB) in children varies widely (1-25%).
• Limited data exists on the incidence of suspected child abuse in pediatric burn admissions within the Netherlands.
• Understanding the characteristics and outcomes of these burns is crucial for timely intervention.

Purpose of the Study:

• To evaluate the incidence, treatment, and outcomes of burns resulting from suspected child abuse in pediatric burn patients.
• To assess the accuracy of the SPUTOVAMO screening tool in identifying potential child abuse or neglect.
• To identify child, burn, and treatment characteristics associated with suspected child abuse.

Main Methods:

• Retrospective study of children aged 0-17 years admitted to burn centre Rotterdam (2009-2013).
• Data collected from the Dutch Burn Repository R3 and medical record reviews.
• Analysis included patient demographics, injury details, treatment, and SPUTOVAMO screening tool outcomes.

Main Results:

• Suspected child abuse or neglect was identified in 43 out of 498 pediatric admissions (9%).
• The SPUTOVAMO screening tool showed positive signs in 12% of completed questionnaires.
• Independent predictors for suspected child abuse included burns to the genital area/buttocks (OR=3.29) and lower socioeconomic status (OR=2.52).

Conclusions:

• The incidence of suspected child abuse in pediatric burn admissions in the Netherlands is comparable to international findings.
• The SPUTOVAMO tool can aid in identifying children requiring additional support due to suspected abuse.
• Specific burn locations and socioeconomic factors are significant indicators of potential child abuse.