Studies on child abuse
| First author (Journal) | Country (ies) | Type of study | Main subject | Objectives | Age (n) | Lockdown /school closure and time of data collection | Outcome measures | Other factors (inequalities) | Summary of results |
| Garstang J, et al. (BMJ Open)37 | UK (Birmingham) | Registry of child protection | Routinely collected clinical data from Child Protection Medical Examination | To determine any change in referral patterns and outcomes in children referred for child protection medical examination (CPME) during the COVID-19 pandemic compared with previous years. | Children (0–18). N=200 CPME | Data were collected for all CPME for 18 week periods in 2018, 2019 and 2020, from the last week in February to the end of June | Incidence rate ratiosIRR of CPME comparing 2018–19 and 2020 | A significant drop of 39% (95% CI 14% to 57%) in CPME referrals during 2020 compared with previous years. CPME 2018= 78; 2019=75; 2020=47. Associated mainly to a school staff decreased in referrals. | |
| Kovler ML, et al. (Child Abuse Negl)38 | USA (Maryland) | Clinical registry (Johns Hopkins Hospital of Maryland) | Child abuse and maltreatment | To assess the proportion of injuries secondary to physical child abuse (PCA) at a level I paediatric trauma centre during the COVID-19 pandemic. | Younger than 15 years | Childcare facilities closed on March 27. Analysis: March 28 to April 27 and compare with 2018 and 2019 | PCA during lockdown | Age, race, severity, type of trauma | Eight patients (13% of total trauma) compared with 4 (2019, 4%) and 3 (2018, 3%). |
| Baron EJ, et al. (J Public Econ)39 | USA (Florida) | Allegation data from the Florida DCF. County-level, monthly information on the total number of allegations of abuse, neglect or abandonment of children | Child abuse and maltreatment | To analyse the Florida child abuse Hotline reported cases and compare with previous years | Children (not specific age?) | Official statewide stay-at-home order in Florida was 3 April 2020. Compare from January 2004–2019 with March and April 2020 monthly allegations | Number of reported cases associated to schools opened | Ecological data on county level of economic condition | 15 000 lower (27%) than expected for these 2 months. |
DCF, Department of Children and Families.