Comparison of clinical and abdominal CT imaging findings in children evaluated for abusive and accidental abdominal trauma.

Background: Diagnosis of child abuse in children evaluated for a blunt abdominal trauma can be challenging due to overlapping types of injuries.

Objective: Identify clinical characteristics and CT findings that differentiate children evaluated for accidental abdominal trauma (AcAT) and abusive abdominal trauma (AbAT).

Materials And Methods: Retrospective (1/2010 to 6/2024) study on children < 3 years-old who had an abdominal CT scan for AcAT or AbAT.

Radiographers' emotional reactions to suspected child abuse.

Introduction: In cases of suspected physical abuse (SPA) in children, a full skeletal survey is performed. Radiographers performing the survey may experience emotional challenges during the examination. The purpose of the study was to explore the emotional aspects of SPA imaging among radiographers and how they respond to potential challenges.

Genital bleeding in prepubertal girls: a systematic review.

Introduction: This systematic review aims to collate evidence of the causes of genital bleeding, other than child sexual abuse and accidental injuries, presenting in prepubertal girls. It provides an update to the 2015 Royal College of Paediatrics and Child Health publication 'The Physical Signs of Child Sexual Abuse', an evidence-based review also known as the Purple Book.

Methods: MEDLINE, EMBASE and Scopus databases were searched for studies published between March 2014 and June 2023.

Racial and Ethnic Disparities in Child Abuse Identification and Inpatient Treatment.

Importance: Child abuse is a leading cause of morbidity in early childhood. Accurate detection remains challenging.

Objective: To describe racial and ethnic disproportionalities in suspicion for child abuse (SCA) in pediatric patients admitted after traumatic injury.

Implementation of a Child Maltreatment Screening Tool in the Prehospital Setting.

Objectives: Emergency Medical Services (EMS) clinicians are in a unique position to screen for child maltreatment as they are often the first point of contact with the health care system and they may encounter children in their home environment. However, EMS training regarding the signs of child maltreatment is lacking. Although several child maltreatment screening tools have been developed for the primary care and Emergency Department (ED) settings, there appears to be no published literature describing or evaluating a prehospital screening aid.

Association between Childhood Trauma, Mental Health Symptoms and Adherence Among Youth Living with HIV in Botswana.

Background: People living with HIV experience traumatic incidents at higher rates than the general population; and research has documented significant association between trauma exposure and the development of mental disorders. Mental health problems have a a negative impact on anti-retroviral treatment adherence. All of these psychosocial concerns play a role in potentially increasing HIV transmission to sexual partners resulting in increased incidence rates.

The Reliability and Validity of the Greek Version of the Child Abuse Report Intention Scale (CARIS) Questionnaire for Midwives, Along With Factors Associated With Their Intention to Report Child Abuse and Neglect.

Objective:  Child maltreatment is a serious public health issue with unquestionable short- and long-term consequences. The midwives' role in the prevention, identification, and reporting of child abuse and neglect (CAN) is crucial for children's well-being. The Child Abuse Report Intention Scale (CARIS) questionnaire was designed to measure factors influencing Taiwanese nurses to report child abuse and has been used in many studies worldwide.

Fractures complicating intraosseous access in pediatric patients - A systematic review.

Introduction: Intraosseous (IO) access is a commonly used procedure in pediatric emergencies for establishingvascular access when alternative means, such as intravenous access, cannot be obtained. Likealternative routes, IO can be administered quickly and provides a route for medications, blood products,and fluids to be infused in emergency circumstances. While the use of IO is generally considered safewith minimal risks, potential complications can include compartment syndrome, infection, thrombosis, and fracture.

Female Genital Mutilation and Cutting: Essentials for Pediatric Nurse Practitioners.

Female genital mutilation and cutting (FGM/C) is a serious global public health problem, violating the basic human rights of girls and women. FGM/C is a form of child maltreatment. According to the World Health Organization 200 million girls and women have undergone FGM/C in thirty countries in Africa, the Middle East, and Asia.

Characteristics and Popularity of Videos of Abusive Head Trauma Prevention: Systematic Appraisal.

Background: Numerous strategies for preventing abusive head trauma (AHT) have been proposed, but controlled studies failed to demonstrate their effectiveness. Digital tools may improve the effectiveness of AHT prevention strategies by reaching a large proportion of the adult population.

Objective: This study aimed to describe the characteristics of videos of AHT prevention published on the internet, including their quality content, and to study their association with popularity.

Developing an Understanding of Complex Trauma Among Child Sexual Assault Survivors in South Africa: Implications for Practice.

South Africa has extraordinarily high levels of CSA with profound immediate and long-term mental health outcomes. This study aimed to investigate the mental health adjustment of children who experienced CSA and accessed support services using mixed methods. Structured interviews using validated mental health screening tools were conducted with children, between the ages of 7-18 years at three intervals over a 10-month period.

Artificial intelligence terminology, methodology, and critical appraisal: A primer for headache clinicians and researchers.

Objective: The goal is to provide an overview of artificial intelligence (AI) and machine learning (ML) methodology and appraisal tailored to clinicians and researchers in the headache field to facilitate interdisciplinary communications and research.

Background: The application of AI to the study of headache and other healthcare challenges is growing rapidly. It is critical that these findings be accurately interpreted by headache specialists, but this can be difficult for non-AI specialists.

Prevalence and determinants of intimate partner sexual violence among pregnant women in sub-Saharan Africa: Evidence from the most recent DHS data 2015-2022.

Introduction: Intimate partner sexual violence (IPSV) is sexual violence against women by a current or former sexual partner. Sexual violence among pregnant women is higher in low-income countries, particularly in sub-Saharan Africa (SSA), which has numerous negative impacts for both the mother and the growing fetus. There is no recent and distinct information on the magnitude and factors associated with IPSV among pregnant women in SSA.

Computed tomography versus radiography for the detection of rib and skull fractures in paediatric suspected physical abuse: a systematic review.

The diagnosis of suspected physical abuse (SPA) remains a continuous challenge to paediatric healthcare. Several studies have reported that computed tomography (CT) improves the evaluation of SPA. This study aims to systematically review the diagnostic performance of CT compared to radiography in investigating skull and chest fractures for SPA.

Child maltreatment mortality in Canada: An analysis of coroner and medical examiner data.

Background: Fatalities are the most severe consequence of child maltreatment, but there are gaps in what is known about the epidemiology of such deaths in Canada.

Objectives: The objectives of this study were to: (1) identify child maltreatment deaths among those classified as homicide or undetermined manner; (2) estimate rates of child maltreatment mortality by sex, age, geography, and year; and (3) measure differences between rates of child maltreatment mortality and homicide mortality.

Methods: We used a cross-sectional design and analyzed mortality data from the Canadian Coroner and Medical Examiner Database for a ten-year period (2007 to 2016).

Barriers to Adoption of a Child-Abuse Clinical Decision Support System in Emergency Departments.

Introduction: Child abuse is a leading cause of morbidity and mortality in children. The rate of missed child abuse in general emergency departments (ED), where 85% of children are evaluated, is higher than in pediatric EDs. We sought to evaluate the impact of an electronic health record (EHR)-embedded child-abuse clinical decision support system (CA-CDSS) in the identification and evaluation of child maltreatment in a network of EDs three years after implementation.

Accidental Detection of Cocaine in Urine in Pediatric Patients: Case Series and Literature Review.

Infantile occult exposure to cocaine in domestic environments represents a complex clinical and medico-legal problem, which can be associated with abuse and neglect and with potential short- and long-term health risks for children. The authors present a retrospective study on 764 children under 14 years old who accessed the Emergency Department of IRCCS Meyer from 2016 to 2023 and were included in the GAIA (Child and Adolescent Abuse Group) protocol for suspected maltreatment and abuse, and for which a urine toxicology analysis was performed. The aim is to discuss the medico-legal implications and highlight the need for a thorough evaluation and management of such situations.

Sexually transmitted infections in sexually abused children: an audit project to implement PCR tests in a child advocacy center in Türkiye.

Background: Sexual abuse in children can sometimes result in sexually transmitted infections (STIs), which can serve as crucial forensic evidence. Although PCR methods are now accepted as the gold standard for STI screening, they have not yet widely replaced traditional culture methods in Türkiye. This study aims to assess the necessity of implementing PCR-based STI testing at Child Advocacy Centers in Türkiye, where such testing is not routinely available.

Intracranial findings associated with low odds of retinal hemorrhage among children under 2 years of age at a single pediatric trauma center.

Background: Evaluation by a pediatric ophthalmologist to look for retinal hemorrhages (RH) is often part of screening for occult injury among young children with intracranial hemorrhage (ICH) presenting to a trauma center. While important, this examination may lengthen the time a child and family remain at the hospital.

Objective: We sought to identify injury patterns associated with a low likelihood of RH, which may help streamline child abuse screening protocols for very young children with ICH.