Monitoring child abuse and neglect at a population level: patterns of hospital admissions for maltreatment and assault.

Objectives: To investigate the prevalence, trends, and characteristics of maltreatment and assault related hospital admissions and deaths among children; and identify common injuries and conditions associated with these admissions using routinely collected morbidity and mortality data.

Methods: A retrospective cohort study of all children aged 0-17 years in Western Australia from 1980 to 2005 was identified from linked de-identified population level data. Annual trends in prevalence of assault and maltreatment related admissions were calculated and child characteristics were investigated using logistic regression models.

The use of cross-jurisdictional population data to investigate health indicators of child maltreatment.

Objectives: To determine the extent to which children with a hospital admission related to assault or maltreatment or to a notified sexually transmitted infection (STI) have contact with the Western Australian Department for Child Protection (DCP), and to investigate injuries and conditions often associated with child maltreatment and subsequent contact with the DCP.

Design, Participants And Setting: Retrospective cohort study using de-identified, record-linked child protection and hospital morbidity data to identify all children aged 0-17 years in Western Australia between 1 January 1990 and 31 December 2005, and a subcohort of children born in WA between these dates, admissions of these children to public and private hospitals in WA, and their contact with the Western Australian DCP.

Main Outcome Measures: Annual trends in notifications and substantiations of child maltreatment; proportion of children with assault-related and maltreatment-related hospital admissions resulting in notifications, substantiations, or out-of-home care.

Characteristics of non-Aboriginal and Aboriginal children and families with substantiated child maltreatment: a population-based study.

Objectives: To investigate specific child and parental factors associated with increased vulnerability to substantiated child maltreatment.

Methods: A retrospective cohort study of all children born in Western Australia during 1990-2005 using de-identified record linked child protection, disability services and health data. Cox regression was used for univariate and multivariate analysis to determine the risk of substantiated child maltreatment for a number of child and parental factors, including child disability, parental age, socio-economic status, parental mental health, substance use and assault-related hospital admissions.

Increasing prevalence of neonatal withdrawal syndrome: population study of maternal factors and child protection involvement.

Objectives: Illicit drug use during pregnancy is an important public health issue, with adverse effects on the newborn and implications for subsequent parenting. The aim of this study was to measure the birth prevalence of neonatal withdrawal syndrome over time, associated maternal characteristics and child protection involvement.

Methods: This is a retrospective cohort study that used linked health and child protection databases for all live births in Western Australia from 1980 to 2005.

Project to policy: TUFH principles in action in Australia.

Context: In 1999, Towards Unity For Health developed principles for patient-based health systems which included partnerships, raising the level of partnerships, integration of individual, population and public health, information management and measurement of outcomes.

Objective: To address the health workforce crisis in an area of remote north western New South Wales (NSW) in Australia.

Method: The NSW Rural Doctors Network applied the TUFH principles in overcoming much of the crisis and developing an ongoing local health system which has answered many of the local needs.

A B cell-based sensor for rapid identification of pathogens.

We report the use of genetically engineered cells in a pathogen identification sensor. This sensor uses B lymphocytes that have been engineered to emit light within seconds of exposure to specific bacteria and viruses. We demonstrated rapid screening of relevant samples and identification of a variety of pathogens at very low levels.