Child Abuse Rises When Economy Sags: Study (Stability of housing = big factor)

[No Elephants]

Read it and weep. Literally.

MONDAY, July 16 (HealthDay News) -- The housing crisis that has left so many people without a permanent home may have worsened another serious problem: child abuse. As mortgage delinquencies and foreclosures loom, the rates of child abuse leading to hospitalization also increased, according to new research.

Between 2000 and 2009, the rate of child abuse requiring hospital admission increased by 3 percent a year for every 1 percent increase in the 90-day mortgage-delinquency rate. The rate of traumatic brain injury suspected to be caused by child abuse increased 5 percent a year for every 1 percent increase in the mortgage-delinquency rate, according to the study.

"On the community level, we need to recognize that losing a home is very stressful, and we need to let families know that it's OK to ask for help," said the study's lead author, Dr. Joanne Wood, assistant professor of pediatrics at Children's Hospital of Philadelphia. "We need to provide them links to resources where they can get help."


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Overall, the rates of child abuse and traumatic brain injury admissions increased by 0.79 percent and 3 percent, respectively, from 2000 to 2009, according to the study. This increase occurred during a period when all-cause injuries in children decreased by 0.8 percent per year.

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If you're a parent who needs help, you can talk to counselors at ChildHelp anonymously and at no cost. Call 800-4-A-CHILD (800-422-4453).

http://news.yahoo.com/child-abuse-rises-economy-sags-study-130406101.html?_esi=1

If you see or suspect child abuse, please do not "mind your own business," no matter how much courage being pro-active may require. And you may know someone who is not necessarily an abuser, but under stress and maybe could use the phone number in the article in the future.