COMPUTER ASSISTED MANAGEMENT AND REVIEW OF CHILD ABUSE CASES IN THE SOUTH BRONX

Abstract

A microcomputer data base management system was used for weekly review of all 675 children admitted to the Lincoln Hospital Pediatric Emergency Room (PER) during a one year period (10/21/85- 10/20/86) reported to the state child protective services agency. The time period corresponds with the initiation of a Joint Response (JR) protocol in New York City Health And Hospital Corporation hospitals created to involve both police and child protective services in cases of severe child abuse (CA) and child sexual abuse (SA). The computerized data assisted the interagency transfer of information, indicating where information was lacking. Of all cases, 251/675 (37%) were SA related, 63/251 (25%) male, average age 7.2 years, and 188/251 (75%) female, average age 8.8 years. The age range of SA cases was from 7 weeks to 18 years. A “rule-out” diagnosis was used in 97/251 (39%) SA cases. 114/675 (17%) were JR cases. Of these, 72/114 (63%) were SA related. 127/675 (19%) of all cases were brought to the PER by child protective services workers for examination after a CA diagnosis had been made. The majority of cases (56%) were brought to the PER during the evening shift (4 P.M. to 12 midnight). Although the daily average is less than two cases per day, up to nine abuse cases were seen during a twenty-four hour period. Forty-two percent of cases were seen during the four warm months of May, June, July and August.