Social and demographic characteristics of child maltreatment fatalities among children ages 5-17 years

Background: While risk factors have been identified among infants and young children, less is known about child maltreatment fatalities among older children.Objectives: To describe the social and demographic characteristics of children where abuse or neglect was determined to cause or contribute to their death, compare characteristics and cir-cumstances of the deaths by cause and manner of death and type of maltreatment, and explore the role of abuse and neglect in child suicides. Participants and setting: Secondary analysis of deaths due to child abuse or neglect among children ages 5-17 years old occurring during 2009-2018 and documented in the National Fatality Review-Case Reporting System.Methods: Child, family, and social characteristics were compared by child age (5-10 years vs. 11-17 year-olds), and by cause and manner of death. Frequencies and proportions were reported and compared using chi-square statistics.Results: 1478 maltreatment-related deaths were identified. Higher proportions of older children were non-Hispanic white, had a history of chronic disease or disability, had problems in school, and had a history of mental health issues. Forty-three percent of the maltreatment deaths were due to homicide and 10 % by suicide. Higher proportions (65 %) of younger children (5-10 years old) died by homicide, compared to older children (35 % among ages 11-17y). While 58 % of deaths overall were related to neglect, 68 % of deaths in older children were related to neglect, including 80 % of suicides.Conclusions: The causes of child maltreatment deaths among children 5-17y vary by age. Child neglect caused and/or contributed to most child suicides.

Automated summary

This study aims to understand child maltreatment fatalities among older children. It was found that older children had higher proportions of non-Hispanic white, chronic disease or disability, school problems, and mental health issues. Neglect contributed to the majority of child suicides, reaching 80%.