Injuries to children younger than one year of age
Rivara, F.P., Kamitsuka, M.D., & Quan, L. (1988, January). Injuries to children younger than one year of age. Pediatrics, 81, 93-97.
OVERVIEW
Child abuse has been coined "the crime of the 1980s." In most states, professionals are legally bound to report evidences of such a crime. Even beyond the greater attention given it, there seems to be an increase in its incidence. False incrimination of parents is a possibility—a very painful one. Clinicians face the difficult task of distinguishing children’s injuries due to abuse from those acquired accidentally and unintentionally.
Researchers investigated the circumstances and characteristics of injuries to 191 infants under one year of age brought to an emergency room for treatment. A comparison was made between two carefully determined groups: 146 infants unintentionally injured and 45 infants abused.
- Within the unintentionally injured group, the majority of injuries were minor, with exception of eight skull fractures and seven fractures of the clavicle.
- Within the abused group, injuries were most often multiple and severe and more likely to lead to long-term disability. Also, fractures of the ribs and lower extremities and retinal hemorrhages were seen only in the abused group.
- There were no differences in groups as to the time of day of reported injury.
The researchers suggest that serious injuries in infants are rarely due to unintentional injuries and that certain kinds of injuries should be viewed as potential signs of abuse.
IMPLICATIONS
- When families cannot protect the life and welfare of innocents, other institutions must step in. Friends and the church can sometimes save injury and public cost. Public professionals need guidelines established by studies such as this.
- Care must be taken not to incriminate innocent parties—such parents need advocates and due process.
- The disciplines of psychology, sociology, and education all have an interest in a careful investigation of this current issue.
- Youth workers have a significant responsibility to affirm families and community and to offer alternative ways for responding to stress-filled situations.
