310191
Child maltreatment and health service use in two different social contexts
Methods: Parents and children participating in the Boricua Youth Study, a longitudinal study of Puerto Rican youth residing in the Bronx, NY (N=1116) and San Juan, Puerto Rico (N=1339) completed reports of child physical, sexual and emotional abuse. Parents reported if the child had visited a doctor, hospital or clinic because the child was ill, was injured or for routine care.
Results: Mean age was 9 years and 51% were boys, 26% of children in NY reported abuse vs. 23% in PR. Models were stratified by site and adjusted for sociodemographic factors. In PR, children who experienced one type of abuse (OR 1.6 95% CI 1.1, 2.3) or two or more (OR 1.9 95%CI 1.1, 3.2) were more likely to report an injury visit. In the Bronx, children who experienced two or more types (OR 2.0 95%CI 1.1, 3.6) were more likely to report an illness visit. No relation between child abuse and routine service use was noted in either site.
Conclusion: Whether for illness or injury, children who experience abuse, frequently come in contact with health care providers, presenting opportunities for intervention and the prevention of further abuse.
Learning Areas:
Diversity and cultureEpidemiology
Planning of health education strategies, interventions, and programs
Provision of health care to the public
Social and behavioral sciences
Learning Objectives:
Describe the prevalence of health service use among children who experience maltreatment. Compare the prevalence of service utilization by type of service use. Discuss contextual differences on the use of services among abused children.
Keyword(s): Child Abuse
Not Answered