Unintentional Injuries Are Associated with Self-Reported Child Maltreatment among Swedish Adolescents

Ylva Tindberg (), Staffan Janson and Carolina Jernbro
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Ylva Tindberg: Department of Women’s and Children’s Health, Uppsala University, 751 85 Uppsala, Sweden
Staffan Janson: Division of Public Health Sciences, Department of Health Sciences, Karlstad University, 651 88 Karlstad, Sweden
Carolina Jernbro: Division of Public Health Sciences, Department of Health Sciences, Karlstad University, 651 88 Karlstad, Sweden

IJERPH, 2023, vol. 20, issue 7, 1-11

Abstract: Injuries constitute a large share of childhood morbidity and mortality. This study examines whether adolescents with self-reported experiences of different types of child maltreatment more frequently reported unintentional injury events requiring health- or dental care during the last year and/or hospitalization at any time during childhood. Cross-sectional data from a Swedish national representative school survey (2016) including 4741 adolescents were used (78.5% response rate). Data were analyzed with univariate tests and multiple logistic regression. Statistically significant associations between reported experiences of physical, psychological and sexual abuse, neglect, and witnessing partner violence during childhood and reported unintentional injuries requiring health- or dental care during the last year were found (aOR:s between 1.39–1.77). The corresponding association for poly-victimization was aOR 1.91 (95% CI 1.39–2.62). Furthermore, a linear-by-linear association was seen for degree of victimization and number of episodes of unintentional injuries that required care in the last year ( p = 0.000), as well as lifetime hospitalizations ( p = 0.000). This study shows significant associations between child maltreatment and unintentional injuries requiring health- and/or dental care and hospitalization. To improve both injury and child maltreatment prevention, healthcare professionals need to pay particular attention to children and adolescents who repeatedly seek healthcare services due to injurious events.

Keywords: child maltreatment; child abuse; poly-victimization; unintentional injuries; healthcare; dental care; adolescents (search for similar items in EconPapers)
JEL-codes: I I1 I3 Q Q5 (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2023
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