Tuesday, September 20, 2011 6:06:26 AM
Recession Linked to Sharp Increase in Child Abuse Injuries
SUMMARY: The struggling economy has led to serious detrimental effects on the nation’s children, with rates of child abuse rising in America.
by Drucilla Dyess, Last updated September 19, 2011
The impact of the struggling U.S. economy has led to serious detrimental effects on the nation’s children. With rampant rates of unemployment and millions of families facing foreclosure on their homes, the strain to simply keep their families fed has forced many to the breaking point.
According to a report recently published in the journal Pediatrics, the number of cases of head injuries suffered from by American children and infants from child abuse has jumped dramatically since the onset of the recent recession.
Researchers, and government officials, find the results of the report highly concerning. Abusive head trauma is the number one cause of death from child abuse, as well as one of the most common causes of traumatic brain injury in infants.
Although the study does not directly point to the recession as being the culprit, soaring unemployment rates were clearly apparent in all geographical areas included in the study, which is a known risk factor for child abuse. While child abuse can occur among any economic class, prior research has shown that children living in poverty have a greater likelihood of suffering physical abuse.
Regarding the results of the study, lead author Dr. Rachel P. Berger, a pediatrician at the Children’s Hospital of Pittsburgh, acknowledged, “I wasn’t surprised, but I am disturbed…. This is the first really long recession in really long time, and the medical diagnoses of abusive head trauma have increased in it.”
During a five-year study from 2004 to 2009, the researchers examined cases of 422 abused children coming mainly from lower-income families among 74 counties across four states, including Kentucky, Ohio, Pennsylvania, and Washington. All of the children included in the study were under 5 years of age, among whom 76 percent were under the age of 1 year.
Their findings revealed that the number of cases of shaken baby syndrome and other forms of brain-injuring abuse jumped from about 9 cases per 100,000 children in years prior to the recession, to nearly 15 per 100,000 children during the recession, accounting for a disturbing 65 percent increase. Most of the children studied suffered brain damage, and a total of 69 died.
During the same time period, unemployment rates rose in all of the 74 counties, while the percentage of children on Medicaid increased from 77 percent pre-recession, to 83 percent after the onset of the recession.
Berger pointed out that the study confirms reports from many pediatricians who have observed an increasing number of shaken baby cases and other forms of brain-injuring abuse. She cited that possible reasons for the stress-related abuse could range from excessive crying among infants to biting, toilet training or defiance issues among older children. She also noted that stronger support and education for these struggling families could help to lower the number of incidents of child abuse injury.
Although data from the federal government do not suggest that the recession had any affect on child abuse rates, the study authors said that the government statistics are based solely on reports from child protective services. They do not include medical diagnoses, nor do they specifically address brain injuries.
If you need help coping with your stress, anger and/or abuse toward your child, there is help. ChildHelp USA National Child Abuse Hotline: 800-4-A-CHILD (422.4453) or STAND! For Families Free of Violence crisis line: 1-888-215-5555.
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© 2011 HealthNews, Inc.
http://www.healthnews.com/en/news/Recession-Linked-to-Sharp-Increase-in-Child-Abuse-Injuries/3p1zLoGHn1nPtLtu1R4syM/ [with comment]
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(linked in) http://investorshub.advfn.com/boards/read_msg.aspx?message_id=65676719 and (the many) preceding and (the several) following
SUMMARY: The struggling economy has led to serious detrimental effects on the nation’s children, with rates of child abuse rising in America.
by Drucilla Dyess, Last updated September 19, 2011
The impact of the struggling U.S. economy has led to serious detrimental effects on the nation’s children. With rampant rates of unemployment and millions of families facing foreclosure on their homes, the strain to simply keep their families fed has forced many to the breaking point.
According to a report recently published in the journal Pediatrics, the number of cases of head injuries suffered from by American children and infants from child abuse has jumped dramatically since the onset of the recent recession.
Researchers, and government officials, find the results of the report highly concerning. Abusive head trauma is the number one cause of death from child abuse, as well as one of the most common causes of traumatic brain injury in infants.
Although the study does not directly point to the recession as being the culprit, soaring unemployment rates were clearly apparent in all geographical areas included in the study, which is a known risk factor for child abuse. While child abuse can occur among any economic class, prior research has shown that children living in poverty have a greater likelihood of suffering physical abuse.
Regarding the results of the study, lead author Dr. Rachel P. Berger, a pediatrician at the Children’s Hospital of Pittsburgh, acknowledged, “I wasn’t surprised, but I am disturbed…. This is the first really long recession in really long time, and the medical diagnoses of abusive head trauma have increased in it.”
During a five-year study from 2004 to 2009, the researchers examined cases of 422 abused children coming mainly from lower-income families among 74 counties across four states, including Kentucky, Ohio, Pennsylvania, and Washington. All of the children included in the study were under 5 years of age, among whom 76 percent were under the age of 1 year.
Their findings revealed that the number of cases of shaken baby syndrome and other forms of brain-injuring abuse jumped from about 9 cases per 100,000 children in years prior to the recession, to nearly 15 per 100,000 children during the recession, accounting for a disturbing 65 percent increase. Most of the children studied suffered brain damage, and a total of 69 died.
During the same time period, unemployment rates rose in all of the 74 counties, while the percentage of children on Medicaid increased from 77 percent pre-recession, to 83 percent after the onset of the recession.
Berger pointed out that the study confirms reports from many pediatricians who have observed an increasing number of shaken baby cases and other forms of brain-injuring abuse. She cited that possible reasons for the stress-related abuse could range from excessive crying among infants to biting, toilet training or defiance issues among older children. She also noted that stronger support and education for these struggling families could help to lower the number of incidents of child abuse injury.
Although data from the federal government do not suggest that the recession had any affect on child abuse rates, the study authors said that the government statistics are based solely on reports from child protective services. They do not include medical diagnoses, nor do they specifically address brain injuries.
If you need help coping with your stress, anger and/or abuse toward your child, there is help. ChildHelp USA National Child Abuse Hotline: 800-4-A-CHILD (422.4453) or STAND! For Families Free of Violence crisis line: 1-888-215-5555.
*
Related Articles
Study shows limits of Child Protective Services by Anne Harding, Last updated October 05, 2010
http://www.healthnews.com/en/news/Study-shows-limits-of-Child-Protective-Services-/2TrxAixnHB5QCCA3PWDLX2/
Urban vs. Country Living: Which Lifestyle Contributes More Stress? by Lynn Walbrecht, Last updated June 22, 2011
http://www.healthnews.com/en/news/Urban-vs-Country-LivingWhich-Lifestyle-Contributes-More-Stress/1B8hAVGMb00x3Mv74sP1YA/
Stress Levels Rising in America by Susan Brady, Last updated November 09, 2010
http://www.healthnews.com/en/news/Stress-Levels-Rising-in-America/0nB_TmcdnA6wFEO_viaRlv/
Study Links Chronic Depression to Childhood Abuse by Kate Kelland, Last updated August 15, 2011
http://www.healthnews.com/en/news/Study-Links-Chronic-Depression-to-Childhood-Abuse/0yH1NTRcL2bOvhPErGJi6w/
Child marriage a scourge for millions of girls by Lisa Anderson, Last updated August 04, 2011
http://www.healthnews.com/en/news/Child-marriage-a-scourge-for-millions-of-girls-/0iDJ_sGmj2kQ68LnsozufA/
*
© 2011 HealthNews, Inc.
http://www.healthnews.com/en/news/Recession-Linked-to-Sharp-Increase-in-Child-Abuse-Injuries/3p1zLoGHn1nPtLtu1R4syM/ [with comment]
---
(linked in) http://investorshub.advfn.com/boards/read_msg.aspx?message_id=65676719 and (the many) preceding and (the several) following
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upon the Right of Election, 1790
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