RT Journal Article
SR Electronic
T1 Variation in recording of child maltreatment in administrative records of hospital admissions for injury in England, 1997–2009
JF Archives of Disease in Childhood
JO Arch Dis Child
FD BMJ Publishing Group Ltd and Royal College of Paediatrics and Child Health
SP 918
OP 925
DO 10.1136/adc.2009.180216
VO 95
IS 11
A1 González-Izquierdo, Arturo
A1 Woodman, Jenny
A1 Copley, Lynn
A1 van der Meulen, Jan
A1 Brandon, Marian
A1 Hodes, Deborah
A1 Lecky, Fiona
A1 Gilbert, Ruth
YR 2010
UL http://adc.bmj.com/content/95/11/918.abstract
AB Background Information on variation in the recording of child maltreatment in administrative healthcare data can help to improve recognition and ensure that services are able to respond appropriately. Objective To examine variation in the recording of child maltreatment and related diagnoses. Design Cross-sectional analyses of administrative healthcare records (Hospital Episode Statistics). Setting and participants Acute injury admissions to the National Health Service in England of children under 5 years of age (1997–2009). Outcome measure Annual incidence of admission for injury recorded by International Classifications of Diseases 10 codes for maltreatment syndrome (child abuse or neglect) or maltreatment-related features (assault, undetermined cause or adverse social circumstances). Proportion of all admissions for injury coded for maltreatment syndrome or maltreatment-related features. Results From 1997 to 2009, the annual incidence of injury admissions coded for maltreatment syndrome declined in infants and in 1–3-year-old children while admissions coded for maltreatment-related features increased in all age groups. The combined incidence of these categories remained stable. Overall, 2.6% of injury admissions in infants, and 0.4–0.6% in older age groups, had maltreatment syndrome recorded. This prevalence more than doubled when maltreatment-related codes were added (6.4% in infants, 1.5–2.1% in older age groups). Conclusion Despite a shift from maltreatment syndrome to codes for maltreatment-related features, the overall burden has remained stable. In combination, the cluster of codes related to maltreatment identify children likely to meet thresholds for suspecting or considering maltreatment and taking further action, as recommended in recent National Institute of Health and Clinical Excellence guidance, and indicate a considerable burden to which hospitals should respond.