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Children with chronic illness more likely to be physically abused
Svensson B. Acta Paediatr. 2011;100:407-412.
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Children with chronic health conditions are more likely to be physically abused than healthy children and to be exposed to domestic violence, or to experience a combination of both, researchers have found.
Researchers analyzed the anonymous survey answers of 2,510 Swedish school children of varying socioeconomic backgrounds, in fourth-, sixth- and ninth-grade. A list of 13 diagnoses, including vision or auditory impairment, speech impediment, diabetes, mental illness, physical disabilities, allergies, asthma, eczema, stomach issues, weight issues, epilepsy or attention-deficit/ hyperactivity disorder was used to determine chronic illness.
Reported child physical abuse included ear boxing, hair pulling, and being beaten by hand or with a device. Exposure to domestic violence was reported as witnessing the adults in the respondent’s family hit each other.
Compared with healthy respondents, children with chronic health conditions reported higher incidence rates of physical abuse (OR=1.67, P<.001), as well as higher incidence rates of experiencing combined physical abuse and domestic violence (OR=2.54, P<.001). Twelve percent of all respondents reported they had been physically abused; 7% reported exposure to intimate partner violence; and 3% reported they had experienced both. Thirty-nine percent of respondents reported chronic health problems: 25% reported having one chronic condition; 10% reported having two; and 4% reported three or more.
Disclosure: The study was supported by grants from Allmänna Barnhuset, Stockholm and County Council of Värmland, Sweden.
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