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Sociodemographic determinants of non-accidental traumatic injuries in children
Omar Nunez Lopez1, Byron D Hughes1, Deepak Adhikari2
1Department of Surgery, University of Texas Medical Branch, Galveston, TX, United States.
Insights
Nonaccidental trauma (NAT) significantly impacts child mortality. Sociodemographic factors like race, sex, and income influence healthcare costs and outcomes for abused children.
Area of Science:
- Pediatrics
- Child Abuse Research
- Public Health
Background:
- Traumatic injuries constitute a significant portion of child abuse cases, leading to substantial annual child fatalities.
- Nonaccidental trauma (NAT) is a critical concern in pediatric healthcare, necessitating research into its contributing factors and consequences.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate the influence of sociodemographic characteristics on healthcare resource utilization and patient outcomes in cases of nonaccidental trauma (NAT).
- To identify specific demographic factors associated with increased costs and mortality in children experiencing NAT.
Main Methods:
- Utilized the Kid's Inpatient Database to identify pediatric cases of NAT and other child abuse diagnoses.
- Employed descriptive statistics and regression analyses to examine the relationship between sociodemographic variables (including income quartiles) and study outcomes.
Main Results:
- Identified 5617 children hospitalized for NAT, with Medicaid insurance linked to higher injury rates compared to private insurance.
- Found that Black race, male sex, and higher income quartiles were independently associated with increased healthcare costs.
- Observed a heightened risk of mortality among younger children and those who were uninsured or self-pay.
Conclusions:
- Nonaccidental trauma (NAT) remains a leading cause of preventable childhood mortality.
- This study highlights key sociodemographic factors that correlate with the incidence, healthcare resource demands, and mortality rates associated with NAT, informing targeted interventions.
Background:
Traumatic injuries account for 18% of child abuse cases and 1680 children die from abuse annually. We set out to determine the impact of sociodemographic characteristics on resource utilization and outcomes in nonaccidental trauma (NAT).
Methods:
We used the Kid's Inpatient Database to identify children with two main subgroups of child abuse diagnoses: NAT and other forms of child abuse. Income was represented by quartiles. Statistical analysis included descriptive statistics and regression analyses.
Results:
We identified 5617 children requiring hospital admission due to NAT. Medicaid insurance payer status was associated with higher rates of traumatic injuries than private insurance. Black race, male sex, and high-income-quartile were independent factors associated with increased cost. We identified an increased risk of mortality in younger children and those with self-pay/uninsured status.
Conclusion:
NAT represents a prevalent cause of childhood mortality. This study identifies sociodemographic factors associated with increased occurrence, higher resource utilization, and increased mortality in NAT.
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