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A multicentre and prospective study of suspected cases of child physical abuse

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Abstract

In this multicentre prospective study, the authors aim to describe the social and clinical characteristics of a population of children who arrived with a suspicion of physical abuse at five Emergency Services across France and who underwent clinical and thorough radiological screening according to a common predetermined protocol. A total of 185 cases of children seen at the Emergency units of five French hospitals over a 4-year period was assessed via a specific protocol and included in this study. The results of this study show socio-cultural factors consistent with previous reports on abused populations, and in particular give interesting data concerning the type and severity of lesions present, on the whole, in 80% of the population studied. In particular this study revealed a high prevalence (30%) of bone fractures. Apart from giving a perspective on the French population, this study adds some information to the too few preexisting studies of its kind—and stresses the importance of effective identification of possible cases of child abuse and of a thorough and sensitive screening protocol.

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Notes

  1. This means that the child presented in his or her medical history a diagnosed handicap, either physical or mental.

  2. This is a translation of the term “precarité”, which has a specific social significance. It refers to situations where there are difficulties in employment, in social and cultural integration, in lodging and access to appropriate health services.

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Acknowledgements

The authors would like to thank all pediatricians, radiologists, and nuclear physicians of the five hospital centres who collaborated in the study, particularly Drs. Balençon (Rennes), Lerebours (Rouen), Aldebert (Nimes). The authors also thank Laure Rizzoli for secretarial work. Funding for this research came from PHRC [Projets Hospitaliers de Recherche Clinique (Ministère de la Santé)].

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Correspondence to L. Martrille.

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Martrille, L., Cattaneo, C., Dorandeu, A. et al. A multicentre and prospective study of suspected cases of child physical abuse. Int J Legal Med 120, 73–78 (2006). https://doi.org/10.1007/s00414-005-0006-5

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s00414-005-0006-5

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