Table 1 Categorization of risk indicators, non-social and social cues in child abuse pediatrician notes (n = 730)
From: Perceived social risk in medical decision-making for physical child abuse: a mixed-methods study
Population based risk indicators | |
Child risks | Low birth weight or premature |
Disabled or behavioral disorder | |
Family risks | Single mother |
Re-ordered family | |
Intimate partner violence | |
Parental | Young maternal age |
Substance abuse | |
Psychiatric illness | |
Low educational achievement | |
Social | Unemployment |
Poverty | |
Social isolation | |
Non-Social Cues | |
Negative | Immunizations not up to date |
Gas or colic drops (crying is associated with abusive head trauma) | |
Unplanned pregnancy | |
Do not follow parenting guidelines (e.g.car seats) | |
Late/inconsistent prenatal care | |
Missing well child care visits | |
No primary care provider | |
Positive | Primary care provider noted |
Employment for either caregiver | |
Immunizations are up to date | |
Follows parenting guidelines (e.g. uses car seats) | |
Well child care visits attended | |
Consistent, early prenatal care | |
Social Cues | |
Negative | Negative description of male caregiver |
Negative description of female caregiver | |
Prior CPS involvement in the family | |
Risk family situation. Household described as chaotic, dangerous, or dysfunctional. | |
Caregiver with criminal justice history (arrest, probation, parole, incarceration) | |
Changing history/ blame shifting | |
Caregiver delayed care for current injuries | |
Incompetent caregiving | |
Caregiver inferred mental health problems | |
Caregiver’s own abuse experience | |
Prior trauma history for patient | |
Inferred substance abuse | |
Intimate partner violence (prior family) | |
Caregiver negative description of child | |
Positive | Sought appropriate care for current injury |
Caregivers positive description of child | |
Social support available | |
Competent parenting | |
Positive description of male caregiver | |
Sought non-emergent care in the past | |
Positive description of female caregiver | |
Caregivers are professionals | |
Positive description of family | |
Provide thoughtful child care | |