Non-accidental injury: a two-year study in central Liverpool

In the two years following the implementation in Liverpool of a case conference system for dealing with non-accidental injury to children, 76 children were discussed at 73 such conferences. Factors in both the children and their families were identified as predisposing to non-accidental injury, notably male sex, illegitimacy, low birthweight, previous injuries in the children, the mothers having become pregnant at an early age, and the families having environmental stress factors. The evolving rôle of the case conference system in providing support for affected families is discussed.