Assessing paediatric safeguarding in rural Australian health services.

ABSTRACT:

Aim

Establish the incidence, burden and characteristics of paediatric safeguarding concerns in rural Australian emergency department practice.

Methods

Retrospective cohort study of burns, injury and poisoning presentations across 16 months involving 1472 paediatric cases.

Results

Five per cent of presentations had confirmed safeguarding concern. These were highest during the 2200-0600 staffing period. Mean age was 7.7 years, 43.8% were female. Multivariable regression models show age 2-6 years (odds ratio (OR), 3.27; 95% confidence interval (CI), 1.35-7.93); delayed presentation (OR, 2.3; 95% CI, 1.47-3.59); and police accompaniment (OR, 9.46; 95% CI, 2.61-34.26) are associated with increased safeguarding concerns. Most concerns (91.8%) related to injuries, largely mu

SUBMITTER: Enzor L 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC10087277 | biostudies-literature | 2022 Dec

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature