Study Reveals Shifting Patterns in Child Physical Abuse During COVID-19 Pandemic

A study published in Pediatric Discovery on February 26, 2025, by researchers from Children's Hospital Los Angeles and the University of Southern California, has brought to light the changing patterns of child physical abuse (CPA) during the COVID-19 pandemic. The research, which analyzed skeletal survey data from 479 pediatric patients between 2019 and 2020, found that while the overall incidence of CPA remained alarmingly consistent, there was a notable decrease in severe injuries such as intracranial and retinal hemorrhages.

The study's findings indicate that before the pandemic, 59% of CPA cases involved intracranial hemorrhage, and 38% involved retinal hemorrhage. However, during the pandemic, these figures dropped to 25% and 5%, respectively. Despite these changes, the patterns of skeletal fractures, demographic variables, and mortality rates remained unchanged, suggesting that the nature of abuse or its detection may have evolved during the pandemic.

Dr. Joseph M. Rich, a co-author of the study, expressed concern over the paradox revealed by the research. The decline in severe injuries, traditionally associated with the most serious cases of abuse, raises questions about whether these injuries are being missed or not reported due to disrupted healthcare systems and reduced opportunities for mandatory reporting during the pandemic.

The study underscores the importance of developing enhanced strategies for detecting child abuse during public health emergencies. Recommendations include improving remote monitoring capabilities for healthcare providers and educators, expanding training to recognize signs of abuse during telehealth sessions, and strengthening support systems for families. The researchers also emphasize the need for longitudinal studies to fully understand the impact of the pandemic on child abuse patterns and to inform future intervention protocols.

For more details on the study, visit https://doi.org/10.1002/pdi3.2526.