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A spatiotemporal analysis of the impact of COVID-19 on child abuse and neglect in the city of Los Angeles, California.
Barboza, Gia E; Schiamberg, Lawrence B; Pachl, Layne.
  • Barboza GE; Department of Criminal Justice, School of Public Affairs, University of Colorado Colorado Springs, United States. Electronic address: gbarboza@uccs.edu.
  • Schiamberg LB; Human Development and Family Studies, College of Social Science, Michigan State University, United States. Electronic address: schiambe@msu.edu.
  • Pachl L; Department of Criminal Justice, School of Public Affairs, University of Colorado Colorado Springs, United States. Electronic address: lpachl@uccs.edu.
Child Abuse Negl ; 116(Pt 2): 104740, 2021 06.
Article in English | MEDLINE | ID: covidwho-764372
ABSTRACT

BACKGROUND:

Severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2; COVID-19) has created an urgent need to identify child abuse and neglect (CAN) and efficiently allocate resources to improve the coordination of responses during a public health crisis.

OBJECTIVE:

To provide unique insights into the spatial and temporal distribution of CAN in relation to COVID-19 outcomes and identify areas where CAN has increased or decreased during the pandemic.

PARTICIPANTS:

Children under 18 years old reported to the Los Angeles Police Department for CAN.

SETTING:

CAN incidents in the city of Los Angeles.

METHODS:

Negative binomial regression was used to explore associations between the implementation of social distancing protocols and reported CAN during COVID-19. Spatiotemporal analysis identified locations of emerging hot and cold spots during the pandemic. Associations between neighborhood structural factors (e.g., school absenteeism, poverty, unemployment, housing insecurity and birth assets) and hot and cold spot patterns were explored.

RESULTS:

There was a statistically significant decline in reports of CAN during the COVID-19 pandemic but no significant trends following the implementation of social distancing measures (e.g. safer at home orders, school closures). Compared to consecutive cold spots, severe housing burden, the number of assets children have at birth, poverty, school absenteeism and labor force participation were significantly associated with new and intensifying hotspots of CAN during the COVID-19 pandemic.

CONCLUSIONS:

Our findings reinforce the utility of developing intervention strategies that minimize harm to children by targeting resources to specific challenges facing families enduring the COVID-19 experience.
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Full text: Available Collection: International databases Database: MEDLINE Main subject: Child Abuse / COVID-19 Type of study: Experimental Studies / Qualitative research Limits: Adolescent / Child / Child, preschool / Female / Humans / Male Country/Region as subject: North America Language: English Journal: Child Abuse Negl Year: 2021 Document Type: Article

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Full text: Available Collection: International databases Database: MEDLINE Main subject: Child Abuse / COVID-19 Type of study: Experimental Studies / Qualitative research Limits: Adolescent / Child / Child, preschool / Female / Humans / Male Country/Region as subject: North America Language: English Journal: Child Abuse Negl Year: 2021 Document Type: Article