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Community child health, public health, and epidemiology
Are abused babies protected from further abuse?
  1. B A Ellaway1,
  2. E H Payne1,
  3. K Rolfe1,
  4. F D Dunstan1,
  5. A M Kemp1,
  6. I Butler2,
  7. J R Sibert1
  1. 1Departments of Child Health and Epidemiology, Statistics and Public Health, Cardiff University, Wales College of Medicine, Academic Centre, Llandough Hospital, Wales, UK
  2. 2Professor of Social Work, Keele University, Staffordshire, UK
  1. Correspondence to:
    Professor J Sibert
    Department of Child Health, University of Wales College of Medicine, Academic Centre, Llandough Hospital, Penarth CF64 2XX, Wales, UK; sibertcardiff.ac.uk

Abstract

A cohort of 69 physically abused babies under 1 year was followed for three years after the incident. Of the 49 babies who returned home following child protection investigations, 15 were further abused in the three year period, a re-abuse rate of 31%, which is grossly higher than the abuse rate in the general population.

  • babies
  • child abuse
  • follow up
  • outcome
  • physical abuse

https://doi.org/10.1136/adc.2003.035493

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    Footnotes

    • Funding: We are grateful to the National Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Children for funding this study. The Wales Office of Research and Development funded the original ascertainment of the cohort.

    • Possible conflict of interest: AMK, EHP, and JRS have previously been expert witnesses in child protection cases.

    • Ethical permission was given by the MREC for Wales.

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      Archives of Disease in Childhood 2004; 89 799-799 Published Online First: 20 Aug 2004.