| Can infant death from child abuse be prevented? | |
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MedLine Citation:
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PMID: 1943956 Owner: NLM Status: MEDLINE |
Abstract/OtherAbstract:
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OBJECTIVE: To assess the effectiveness of a child abuse surveillance and intervention program in protecting infants at risk. DESIGN AND SETTING: A retrospective review of all children discussed by the Suspected Child Abuse and Neglect Team of the Mater Misericordiae Children's Hospital, South Brisbane, over the five year period January 1986 to December 1990. PATIENTS: A total of 2126 children were discussed by the team; 375 were infants (less than 12 months of age) at the time of the initial discussion. Nine infants died suddenly and these nine deaths were examined in detail. RESULTS: All deaths were considered initially to be due to sudden infant death syndrome (SIDS), but autopsy findings in six suggested death was not accidental and in the other three significant doubt was raised by the history. Identifying risk factors for non-accidental injury were clearly present in all cases; however, there were major problems with notification to the appropriate authorities. Even in cases where appropriate identification and notification occurred planned interventions by multiple agencies failed to prevent death of these infants. CONCLUSIONS: There is a growing awareness of child abuse as a significant cause of morbidity and mortality in developed countries, but intervention is fraught with multiple difficulties and prevention programs are few. Recommendations are offered for improvement in recognition and notification of incipient child abuse as well as appropriate interventions to prevent infant deaths. Inappropriate death recording procedures may result in some sudden deaths being recorded as SIDS when in fact they are caused by child abuse. |
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Authors:
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K L Armstrong; D Wood |
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Publication Detail:
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Type: Case Reports; Journal Article |
Journal Detail:
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Title: The Medical journal of Australia Volume: 155 ISSN: 0025-729X ISO Abbreviation: Med. J. Aust. Publication Date: 1991 Nov |
Date Detail:
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Created Date: 1991-12-03 Completed Date: 1991-12-03 Revised Date: 2004-11-17 |
Medline Journal Info:
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Nlm Unique ID: 0400714 Medline TA: Med J Aust Country: AUSTRALIA |
Other Details:
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Languages: eng Pagination: 593-6 Citation Subset: IM |
Affiliation:
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Queensland Department of Health, Brisbane North Regional Health Authority, Everton Park, QLD. |
Export Citation:
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APA/MLA Format Download EndNote Download BibTex |
| MeSH Terms | |
Descriptor/Qualifier:
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Cause of Death Child Child Abuse / complications, mortality* Death Certificates / legislation & jurisprudence Female Hematoma, Subdural / etiology, mortality Humans Infant Male Patient Care Team* Prognosis Program Evaluation Queensland / epidemiology Retrospective Studies Risk Factors Skull Fractures / etiology, mortality Sudden Infant Death / epidemiology, etiology, prevention & control* |
| Comments/Corrections | |
Comment In:
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Med J Aust. 1991 Dec 2-16;155(11-12):851-2
[PMID:
1745196
]
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From MEDLINE®/PubMed®, a database of the U.S. National Library of Medicine
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