Childhood Maltreatment, Public Service System Contact, and Preventable Death in Young Adulthood

Violence and Victims
|February 25, 2017
PubMed

Insights

Child maltreatment history increases the risk of injury-related death in young adulthood. Early emergency room treatment for intentional injury and juvenile offenses also elevate mortality risk, particularly firearm deaths among Black youth.

Area of Science:

  • Public Health
  • Epidemiology
  • Child Welfare

Background:

  • Child maltreatment is a significant public health concern with long-term consequences.
  • Understanding risk factors for injury-related mortality in young adults is crucial for prevention.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To examine the association between child maltreatment history and injury-related death in young adulthood.
  • To identify specific risk factors and potential systems for preventive interventions.

Main Methods:

  • Longitudinal cohort study comparing low-income children reported for maltreatment with matched nonreported peers.
  • Survival analysis using hazard ratios (HR) to assess risk over time.

Main Results:

  • Maltreatment reports were linked to a 9% increased risk of injury-related death (HR = 1.09).
  • History of status/delinquent offenses (HR = 2.24) and prior ER treatment for intentional injury (HR = 3.95) significantly increased death risk.
  • Firearm-related deaths accounted for over 50% of all deaths, predominantly among Black youth.

Conclusions:

  • Child maltreatment history is a significant predictor of young adult injury-related mortality.
  • Early intervention for juvenile offenses and intentional injuries may mitigate risks.
  • Targeted prevention strategies are needed for high-risk populations, especially concerning firearm violence in Black youth.

Related Concept Videos

Preventive Healthcare Services01:30

Preventive Healthcare Services

Preventive healthcare services keep people healthy via frequent check-ups, screening, and counseling. They primarily aid in disease prevention rather than treating an acute or chronic illness. Preventive treatment also keeps individuals productive and energetic, allowing them to work well into their retirement years. Examples of preventive care services include:
2.3K
Levels of Health Promotion and Illness Prevention01:26

Levels of Health Promotion and Illness Prevention

Health promotion allows a person to control the determinants of health, resulting in an improved health status. It enhances the quality of life and reduces premature deaths. Health promotion and illness prevention programs help people make beneficial choices to reduce the risk of disease and disabilities. There are three health promotion and illness prevention levels: primary, secondary, and tertiary prevention.
In primary prevention, actions taken before disease onset prevent the disease from...
15.3K
Psychological and Sociocultural Causes of Schizophrenia01:29

Psychological and Sociocultural Causes of Schizophrenia

Schizophrenia, a complex psychiatric disorder, has been historically misunderstood. Early psychological theories attributed its origins to childhood trauma and unresponsive parenting. However, contemporary research largely rejects these notions, favoring the vulnerability-stress hypothesis. This model proposes that individuals with a genetic predisposition to schizophrenia may develop the disorder following exposure to significant environmental stressors. Notably, studies on high-risk...
735
Conduct Disorder01:28

Conduct Disorder

Conduct disorder is a complex mental health diagnosis characterized by a repetitive and persistent pattern of behavior that violates societal norms, the rights of others, or age-appropriate rules. The diagnostic criteria for conduct disorder require the presence of at least three problematic behaviors within the past 12 months, with at least one occurring in the past six months. These behaviors are grouped into four categories: aggression toward people and animals; destruction of property;...
733
Oppositional Defiant Disorder01:30

Oppositional Defiant Disorder

A persistent pattern of angry or irritable mood, defiant behavior, or vindictiveness characterizes Oppositional Defiant Disorder (ODD). Symptoms must occur over at least six months, involve interactions with individuals beyond siblings, and meet specific diagnostic criteria to be clinically significant. The disorder affects emotional regulation, social interactions, and behavior, often manifesting early in life and influencing long-term development and functioning.
Diagnostic Criteria and...
1.0K
Pulmonary Tuberculosis I01:29

Pulmonary Tuberculosis I

Tuberculosis, often called TB, is a contagious illness primarily caused by Mycobacterium tuberculosis. It mainly affects the lung parenchyma but can also impact other body parts.
Causative Organism
The primary infectious agent causing tuberculosis is Mycobacterium tuberculosis, a slow-growing, acid-fast, aerobic rod that exhibits sensitivity to heat and ultraviolet light. Instances of Mycobacterium bovis and Mycobacterium avium contributing to the development of TB infection are rare.
Mode of...
1.1K