Organizations unite to help prevent child abuse and neglect during the COVID-19 pandemic

Recent child deaths and an increase in abuse-related pediatric hospitalizations sparks concern

Feb 25 - BOISE, ID -- A record year of abuse-related child deaths, and a measurable increase in child abuse cases that are serious enough to result in emergency care at St. Luke’s and St. Luke’s CARES (Children at Risk Evaluation Services), has sparked concern in Idaho. The financial and emotional stress of COVID-19 is believed to be impacting Idaho families and local organizations are teaming up to let families know there is help available.

THE INCREASED PROBLEM OF CHILD ABUSE

In the last year since the onset of COVID, St. Luke’s Children’s has seen a sharp uptick in child abuse severity, including deaths. In 2020, St. Luke’s CARES did 107 inpatient consults. They include physical abuse, neglect and some accidental injuries. For comparison, there were 74 inpatient cases in 2019. Five child fatalities in the last year were attributed to abuse or neglect, including one suspected case this week. The last death St. Luke’s Children’s and CARES could find in the records was one in 2017.

In a traditional year, St. Luke’s CARES sees about 1800 kids. Although the numbers are about the same this year, CARES believes child abuse cases are higher than what it knows about. There was a significant reduction in referrals from law enforcement and the Department of Health and Welfare during the first few months COVID-19. Also, schools account for approximately 40% of child abuse reports, but with many kids in online or hybrid school since April, there’s concern about the number of suspected cases not reported because children did not have a safe adult to tell. Physician leaders say this could explain why volumes are the same, but the severity of injuries is higher.

“We know parents and caregivers are under tremendous pressure,” said Dr. Kendra Bowman, a St. Luke’s pediatric trauma medical director and pediatric surgeon. “The financial strain from the recession caused by COVID-19, unemployment, working from home while children are present and not having any break from caring for children because schools and many offices are closed can be overwhelming.”

St. Luke’s Children’s Pediatric Trauma program has also seen an increase in cases. Nineteen children were admitted to the hospital in 2020 with physical injuries. The injuries were more severe than the care team would have traditionally seen. For comparison, that number was seven just one year before.

In Idaho as Children:

· 1 in 8 were sexually abused · 1 in 6 were physically abused · 1 in 6 witnessed violence between their parents · 1 in 4 lived with an alcoholic.