The rate of abusive head trauma to infants and young children has nearly doubled since the economy began collapsing in 2007, a national study indicates.
Researchers looked at the number of abuse cases in four U.S. hospitals, in Pittsburgh, Cincinnati, Seattle and Columbus, Ohio. They found increases in every city.
"Abusive head trauma -- previously known as 'shaken baby syndrome' -- is the leading cause of death from child abuse, if you don't count neglect," study author Dr. Rachel P. Berger, an assistant professor of pediatrics at the University of Pittsburgh School of Medicine, told the Health Day news service. "And so, what's concerning here is that we saw in four cities that there was a marked increase in the rate of abusive head trauma among children during the recession compared with beforehand."
"Now we know that poverty and stress are clearly related to child abuse," added Berger. "And during times of economic hardship one of the things that's hardest hit are the social services that are most needed to prevent child abuse. So, this is really worrisome."
USA Today also has an article.
A Connecticut Commission on Children blog highlighting news articles and other information on how children are faring in this crisis.
Posts
