Year: 2015
Type: article
Study design: Observational Study
Abstract: Child abuse is a significant problem within our society. In 2010, there were approximately 1,560 fatalities as a result of child abuse; 17.6% of those deaths were the direct result of physical abuse and 80% occurred in children under the age of 4. There is a dearth of research examining severe physical abuse among children and, as a result, the demographics of this population are unclear as are the psychological referrals and services provided to these children. The aims of the current study are to identify the demographic characteristics of child victims of non-accidental trauma (NAT, i.e. physical abuse) as well as examine the psychological services provided to these children in the hospital and at discharge. The current sample included 743 children who were admitted to Loma Linda University Children’s Hospital after suffering NAT. The majority of NAT patients were under the age of 5 (96%), and of Caucasian (39.4%), Latino (38.8%) or African American (16.9%) decent. Consultations, referrals and recommendations for psychological services were minimal. While in the hospital, less than two percent of the children and families in this sample received a Psychiatry consultation and less than three percent were seen by Psychology consultation services. Upon discharge, only 3 children (0.4%) were documented to have been referred directly for psychological services. The implications of this study show the great need for a medical system of care which ensures that children with NAT receive psychological treatment as very few of these children received psychological interventions during their initial admission when intervention is felt to be most beneficial.
Author: Robyn Finckbone
Language: English
Topic: Child Abuse and Trauma
Subfield: Clinical Psychology
Field: Psychology
Domain: Social Sciences
Open Access status: green
Funder: Loma Linda University
OpenAlex ID: W2340899093