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Growth Patterns in Child Abuse
Author(s) -
TAITZ L.S.,
KING J.M.
Publication year - 1988
Publication title -
acta pædiatrica
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.772
H-Index - 115
eISSN - 1651-2227
pISSN - 0803-5253
DOI - 10.1111/j.1651-2227.1988.tb10803.x
Subject(s) - medicine , accidental , cohort , linear growth , pediatrics , growth retardation , cohort study , injury prevention , demography , poison control , environmental health , pregnancy , mathematics , sociology , biology , genetics , physics , acoustics
This study reports clinical details and statistical analysis of linear and body mass growth retardation in a cohort of 260 abused children. Seventy‐one children (26%) showed impairment of growth for weight or height; 21 out of 92 children who spent time in foster homes showed catch‐up growth whereas only 5 out of 168 never separated from their parents demonstrated improvement in height or weight centiles. Out of 11 children placed in fostercare who were more than 2 SD below the mean for height, 10 demonstrated significant catch‐up whereas only 4 out of 28 children who remained in their natural homes did so. Catch‐up growth among children who remained at home was generally less than that which occurred in foster homes. In 17 cases diagnosis of growth impairment preceded nonaccidental injury. Growth of growth‐retarded children in natural homes was poor. Because of the relationship between poor growth and other parameters of development, children who show catch‐up growth in foster homes should probably not be‘rehabilitated’with their natural parents. Key words: Growth impairment, abuse, non‐accidental injury.