Child maltreatment and health service use: findings of the Australian Child Maltreatment Study

• DOI: 10.5694/mja2.51892
• Publication Date: 2023-04-02T14:01:35Z
• Authors: Rosana Pacella; Alexandra Nation; Ben Mathews; James G Scott; Daryl J Higgins; Divna M Haslam; Michael P Dunne; David Finkelhor; Franziska Meinck; Holly E Erskine; Hannah J Thomas; Eva Malacova; David M Lawrence; Claire Monks
• Keywords: Family medicine; Maternal Filicide and Infanticide Research; Sociology and Political Science; 150; cost of illness; 610; Social Sciences; Poison control; Suicide prevention; Sociology; Surveys and Questionnaires; community health services; Maltreatment; Pathology; Humans; Psychology; Child Abuse; health services; Child; Internal medicine; Retrospective Studies; Demography; 360; Child welfare; child welfare; Psychiatry; Research; Effects of Childhood Trauma and Adversity; Confidence interval; Australia; Community health services; Odds ratio; Patient Acceptance of Health Care; Health services; 3. Good health; FOS: Sociology; FOS: Psychology; Clinical Psychology; Cross-Sectional Studies; Environmental health; Occupational safety and health; Cost of illness; Medicine; Mental health; Mental Health of Refugees and Immigrants; Child abuse

Abstract Objectives To examine associations between child maltreatment and health service use, both overall, by type the number of types reported. Design, setting Cross‐sectional, retrospective survey using Juvenile Victimization Questionnaire‐R2: Adapted Version (Australian Child Maltreatment Study); computer‐assisted mobile telephone interviews random digit dialling, Australia, 9 April – 11 October 2021. Participants Australians aged 16 years or more. The target sample size was 8500 respondents: 3500 people 16–24 1000 respondents each from five age groups (25–34, 35–44, 45–54, 55–64, 65 more). Main outcome measures Self‐reported use during past twelve months: hospital admissions, length stay, reasons for admission; numbers consultations with care professionals, overall type. Associations are reported as odds ratios adjusted group, gender, socio‐economic status, financial hardship (childhood current), geographic remoteness. Results A total 8503 participants completed survey. Respondents who had experienced were significantly more likely than those not to report a admission preceding months (adjusted ratio [aOR], 1.39; 95% confidence interval [CI], 1.16–1.66), particularly mental disorder (aOR, 2.4; CI, 1.03–5.6). likelihood six visits general practitioners 2.37; 1.87–3.02) consultation nurse 2.67; 1.75–4.06), psychologist 2.40; 2.00–2.88), psychiatrist 3.02; 2.25–4.04) higher childhood. People three generally most greater use. Conclusions has major impact on Early, targeted interventions vital, only supporting children directly, but also their longer term wellbeing reducing system throughout life.