incidence of physical abuse

Last reviewed 01/2018

In literature, the younger children (predominantly <3 years) are considered to be the most likely age group to be physically abused.

• it is not restricted to this age group since children up to late teens are also at risk of being abused
• the highest rate of abuse is seen in children aged <1 (21.9 per 1000 children) (1)

Sociodemographic characteristics seem to vary from country to country. Increased prevalence of physical abuse was associated with:

• lower socioeconomic status
• immigrant children - in Sweden, these children are eight times more likely to be reported as abused
• asylum seekers
• internationally adopted children (1)

Disabled children and children with behavioural or learning difficulties may become more vulnerable to abuse (1). In addition to children, elderly people are also at a risk of being abused (2).

• according to a summary of international elder abuse prevalence, as many as 4.3% of older adults are reported to be physically abused annually
• the reported rates are higher for dependant older adults with caregivers (2)

Reference:

• 1. Maguire S. Which injuries may indicate child abuse? Arch Dis Child Educ Pract Ed. 2010;95(6):170-7.
• 2. Wiglesworth A et al. Bruising as a marker of physical elder abuse. J Am Geriatr Soc. 2009;57(7):1191-6.