Peer-reviewed article
Characteristics of Child Deaths and Near-Deaths Resulting From Violence or Maltreatment.
Girardet R, Strickler L, Hinrichsen A, Gardner B, Bodor G et al. ·
Summary
Written by AI, not yet AICS's view · claude-haiku-4-5-20251001This study examined deaths and near-deaths of children from violence or maltreatment in New Mexico between 2019 and 2022. Researchers reviewed medical and forensic records for 76 children, of whom 60 died. Boys were more commonly affected. Firearm injuries were the main cause of death in adolescents, while other injury types dominated among younger children. Parents' intimate partner violence, involvement with child protective services, and substance use were identified more often in non-fatal cases.
Key points
- 76 children met inclusion criteria; 60 died from violence or maltreatment
- Most victims were male
- Firearm injuries were most common among adolescents; other injury mechanisms predominated among younger victims
- Parent intimate partner violence was more common among children with non-fatal injuries than fatal injuries
- Parent intimate partner violence, child protective services involvement, and parent substance use were identified more often in children with non-firearm injuries versus firearm injuries
Limitations
This is a retrospective record review from a single state covering a 3-year period, so findings may not be generalizable to other regions or time periods. The study is descriptive in nature and cannot establish causal relationships between risk factors and outcomes.
Abstract
U.S. children suffer higher rates of death resulting from violence than children in economically comparable countries. Prevention of violent injury relies on robust data regarding demographic and contributing factors. This retrospective study of records from the New Mexico Office of the Medical Investigator (OMI), the University of New Mexico Children's Hospital (UNMH), and the UNMH child protection team examined demographic and risk factors for child deaths and near-deaths resulting from violence or maltreatment (abuse or neglect) during the period August 1, 2019 - September 30, 2022. The OMI is the only forensic laboratory in the state, and UNMH is the state's only pediatric trauma hospital. 76 children met inclusion criteria; 60 of these died. Most victims were male. Firearm injuries were most common among adolescents, and other injury mechanisms predominated among younger victims. Parent intimate partner violence (IPV) was more common among children who suffered non-fatal injuries than fatal; and parent IPV, current or prior child protective services involvement, and parent substance use were identified more often in children with non-firearm injuries versus firearm. Other risk factors did not discriminate between groups. Pooling data for serious non-accidental child injury would increase the data available for epidemiologic studies and prevention efforts.