Contrasting Methods of Measurement in Spatial Analyses Examining the Alcohol Environment and Child Maltreatment

Child physical abuse is a major public health issue in the United States. Environmental child welfare research has focused on neighborhood characteristics and the influence of alcohol and marijuana establishments. To our knowledge, child welfare studies have singularly examined the outcome in terms of victims, that is, at the level of child population, and have not considered the parent population. Thus, in this exploratory study, we use spatial scan statistics to analyze patterns of child physical abuse at the child and household level, and we use Bayesian hierarchical spatial conditional autoregressive models to determine the relative influence of alcohol availability and other environmental factors. We find that household clusters are nested in child clusters and that controlling for alcohol establishments reduces cluster size. In the Bayesian regression models, alcohol availability increased risk slightly, while neighborhood diversity (measured using Blau’s Index) elevated risk considerably. Immediate implications for child welfare agencies are discussed.

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An Observational Cohort Study ofClostridium difficileRibotype 027 and Recurrent Infection

mSphere ◽

10.1128/msphere.00033-18 ◽

2018 ◽

Vol 3 (3) ◽

Cited By ~ 10

Author(s):

Krishna Rao ◽

Peter D. R. Higgins ◽

Vincent B. Young

Keyword(s):

Logistic Regression ◽

Independent Predictor ◽

The United States ◽

Public Health Issue ◽

Clinical Microbiology Laboratory ◽

Clinical Predictors ◽

Content Type ◽

Ribotype 027 ◽

Increased Risk ◽

Wide Range

ABSTRACTRecurrentClostridium difficileinfection (rCDI) frequently complicates recovery from CDI. Accurately predicting rCDI would allow judicious allocation of limited resources, but published models have met with limited success. Thus, biomarkers predictive of recurrence have been sought. This study tested whether PCR ribotype independently predicted rCDI. Stool samples from nonpregnant inpatients ≥18 years of age with diarrhea were included from October 2010 to January 2013 after the patients tested positive forC. difficilein the clinical microbiology laboratory. Per guidelines, the rCDI was defined as a positive test forC. difficileat >2 weeks but ≤8 weeks from the index episode. For each sample, a single colony ofC. difficilewas isolated by anaerobic culture, confirmed to be toxigenic by PCR, and ribotyped. Simple logistic regression and multiple logistic regression were used to model the primary outcome of rCDI, incorporating a wide range of clinical parameters. In total, 927 patients with 968 index episodes of CDI were included, with 110 (11.4%) developing rCDI. Age and use of proton pump inhibitors or concurrent antibiotics did not increase the risk of rCDI. Low serum bilirubin levels and ribotype 027 were associated with increased risk of rCDI on unadjusted analysis, with health care-associated CDI being inversely associated. In the final multivariable model, ribotype 027 was the strongest independent predictor of rCDI (odds ratio, 2.17; 95% confidence interval, 1.33 to 3.56;P= 0.002). Ribotype 027 is an independent predictor of rCDI.IMPORTANCECDI is a major public health issue, with over 400,000 cases per year in the United States alone. Recurrent CDI is common, occurring in approximately one in five individuals after a primary episode. Although interventions exist that could reduce the risk of recurrence, deployment in all patients is limited by cost, invasiveness, and/or an undetermined long-term safety profile. Thus, clinicians need risk stratification tools to properly allocate treatments. Because prior research on clinical predictors has failed to yield a reliable, reproducible, and effective predictive model to assist treatment decisions, accurate biomarkers of recurrence would be of great value. This study tested whether PCR ribotype independently predicted rCDI, and the data build upon prior research in showing that ribotype 027 is associated with rCDI.

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Comparing Reports of Child Sexual and Physical Abuse Using Child Welfare Agency Data in Two Jurisdictions with Different Mandatory Reporting Laws

Social Sciences ◽

10.3390/socsci9050075 ◽

2020 ◽

Vol 9 (5) ◽

pp. 75

Author(s):

Ben Mathews ◽

Leah Bromfield ◽

Kerryann Walsh

Keyword(s):

Sexual Abuse ◽

Child Welfare ◽

Child Sexual Abuse ◽

Physical Abuse ◽

Western Australia ◽

Child Protection ◽

Public Awareness ◽

Mandatory Reporting ◽

Child Physical Abuse ◽

Positive Effects

Empirical analysis has found that mandatory reporting legislation has positive effects on case identification of child sexual abuse both initially and over the long term. However, there is little analysis of the initial and ongoing impact on child protection systems of the rate of reports that are made if a reporting duty for child sexual abuse is introduced, especially when compared with rates of reports for other kinds of child maltreatment. This research analysed government administrative data at the unique child level over a seven-year period to examine trends in reports of child sexual abuse, compared with child physical abuse, in two Australian states having different socio-legal dimensions. Data mining generated descriptive statistics and rates per 100,000 children involved in reports per annum, and time trend sequences in the seven-year period. The first state, Western Australia, introduced the legislative reporting duty in the middle of the seven-year period, and only for sexual abuse. The second state, Victoria, had possessed mandatory reporting duties for both sexual and physical abuse for over a decade. Our analysis identified substantial intra-state increases in the reporting of child sexual abuse attributable to the introduction of a new legislative reporting duty, and heightened public awareness resulting from major social events. Victoria experienced nearly three times as many reports of physical abuse as Western Australia. The relative burden on the child protection system was most clearly different in Victoria, where reports of physical abuse were relatively stable and two and a half times higher than for sexual abuse. Rates of children in reports, even at their single year peak, indicate sustainable levels of reporting for child welfare agencies. Substantial proportions of reports were made by both legislatively mandated reporters, and non-mandated community members, suggesting that government agencies would benefit from engaging with communities and professions to enhance a desirable reporting practice.

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Association between childhood trauma and physical disorders among adults in the United States

Psychological Medicine ◽

10.1017/s003329170300134x ◽

2004 ◽

Vol 34 (3) ◽

pp. 509-520 ◽

Cited By ~ 202

Author(s):

RENEE D. GOODWIN ◽

MURRAY B. STEIN

Keyword(s):

United States ◽

Sexual Abuse ◽

Physical Abuse ◽

Childhood Trauma ◽

The United States ◽

Biological Data ◽

Childhood Physical Abuse ◽

Childhood Neglect ◽

Increased Risk ◽

Physical Disorders

Background. The goal of this investigation was to determine the association between self-reported childhood trauma and physical disorders among adults in the United States.Method. Data were drawn from the National Comorbidity Survey (N=S877). Multiple logistic regression analyses were used to determine the associations between childhood physical abuse, sexual abuse, and childhood neglect and the likelihood of specific physical disorders among adults.Results. Childhood physical abuse, sexual abuse and neglect were associated with a statistically significantly increased risk of a wide range of physical illnesses during adulthood. After adjusting for demographic characteristics, lifetime anxiety and depressive disorders, alcohol and substance dependence, and all types of trauma: results showed that childhood physical abuse was associated with increased risk of lung disease (OR=1·5 (1·1, 2·2)), peptic ulcer (OR=1·5 (1·03, 2·2)) and arthritic disorders (OR=1·5 (1·1, 2·2)); childhood sexual abuse was associated with increased risk of cardiac disease (OR=3·7 (1·5, 9·4)); and childhood neglect was associated with increased risk of diabetes (OR=2·2 (1·1, 4·4)) and autoimmune disorders (OR=4·4 (1·7, 11·6)).Conclusions. Consistent with previous work, these results suggest that self-reported childhood trauma is associated with increased risk of a range of physical illnesses during adulthood. Future research that includes replication of these findings using prospectively assessed physical and mental disorders with objectively measured biological data using a longitudinal design, including other known risk factors for these diseases and more detailed information on specific forms of abuse, is needed to understand the potential mechanisms of these links.

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Vacant Properties and Violence in Neighborhoods

ISRN Public Health ◽

10.5402/2012/246142 ◽

2012 ◽

Vol 2012 ◽

pp. 1-9 ◽

Cited By ~ 30

Author(s):

Charles C. Branas ◽

David Rubin ◽

Wensheng Guo

Keyword(s):

Negative Binomial ◽

Negative Binomial Regression ◽

The United States ◽

Public Health Issue ◽

Negative Binomial Regression Model ◽

Alcohol Outlets ◽

Aggravated Assault ◽

Increased Risk ◽

Significant Public Health ◽

Block Groups

Objectives. Violence remains a significant public health issue in the United States. To determine if urban vacant properties were associated with an increased risk of assaultive violence and if this association was modified by important neighborhood institutions (e.g., schools, parks/playgrounds, police stations, and alcohol outlets). Methods. Longitudinal ecologic study of all 1816 block groups in Philadelphia. Aggravated assault and vacant property data were compiled yearly from 2002 to 2006 and linked to block groups. A mixed effects negative binomial regression model examined the association of vacant properties and assaults between and within block groups. Results. Among all block groups, 84% experienced at least one vacant property, 89% at least one aggravated assault, and 64% at least one gun assault. Between block groups, the risk of aggravated assault increased 18% for every category shift of vacant properties (IRR 1.18, 95% CI: 1.12, 1.25, ). Parks/playgrounds and alcohol outlets potentially modified the association between vacant properties and aggravated assaults but only at low levels of vacancy. Conclusions. Increasing levels of vacancy were associated with increased risk of assaultive violence in urban block groups.

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Scaling up measurement to confront food insecurity in the USA

Translational Behavioral Medicine ◽

10.1093/tbm/ibaa112 ◽

2020 ◽

Author(s):

Carmen Byker Shanks ◽

Eric E Calloway ◽

Courtney A Parks ◽

Amy L Yaroch

Keyword(s):

Food Security ◽

Food Insecurity ◽

Scale Up ◽

The United States ◽

Dietary Quality ◽

Public Health Issue ◽

The Public ◽

Core Set ◽

Increased Risk ◽

The Usa

Abstract It is necessary to scale up measurement in order to confront the persisting problem of food insecurity in the United States (USA) are necessary. The causes and consequences around food insecurity are briefly described in order to frame the complexity of the public health issue and demonstrate need for expanded measurement approaches. We assert that measurement of food security in the USA is currently based upon a core set of rigorous metrics and, moving forward, should also constitute a supplemental registry of measures to monitor and address variables that are associated with increased risk for food insecurity. Next, we depict dietary quality as a primary example of the power of measurement to make significant progress in our understanding and management of food insecurity. Finally, we discuss the translational implications in behavioral medicine required to make progress on achieving food security for all in the USA.

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Child Physical Abuse: Prevalence, Characteristics, Predictors, and Beliefs about Parent-Child Violence in South Asian, Middle Eastern, East Asian, and Latina Women in the United States

Child Maltreatment: A Collection of Readings ◽

10.4135/9781452230689.n19 ◽

2014 ◽

pp. 312-328 ◽

Cited By ~ 1

Author(s):

Azmaira H. Maker ◽

Priti V. Shah ◽

Zia Agha

Keyword(s):

United States ◽

Physical Abuse ◽

South Asian ◽

Middle Eastern ◽

East Asian ◽

The United States ◽

Child Physical Abuse ◽

Latina Women ◽

Child Violence ◽

Parent Child

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A Silenced Population

Crisis ◽

10.1027/0227-5910/a000470 ◽

2017 ◽

Vol 38 (6) ◽

pp. 433-442 ◽

Cited By ~ 1

Author(s):

Kim Gryglewicz ◽

Melanie Bozzay ◽

Brittany Arthur-Jordon ◽

Gabriela D. Romero ◽

Melissa Witmeier ◽

...

Keyword(s):

At Risk ◽

Depressive Symptomatology ◽

The United States ◽

Future Research ◽

At Risk Youth ◽

Peer Relationship ◽

Student Records ◽

Cross Sectional ◽

Increased Risk ◽

Method Student

Abstract. Background: Given challenges that exceed the normal developmental requirements of adolescence, deaf and hard-of-hearing (DHH) youth are believed to be at elevated risk for engaging in suicide-related behavior (SRB). Unfortunately, little is known about the mechanisms that put these youth potentially at risk. Aims: To determine whether peer relationship difficulties are related to increased risk of SRB in DHH youth. Method: Student records (n = 74) were retrieved from an accredited educational center for deaf and blind students in the United States. Results: Peer relationship difficulties were found to be significantly associated with engagement in SRB but not when accounting for depressive symptomatology. Limitations: The restricted sample limits generalizability. Conclusions regarding risk causation cannot be made due to the cross-sectional nature of the study. Conclusion: These results suggest the need for future research that examines the mechanisms of the relationship between peer relationship difficulties, depression, and suicide risk in DHH youth and potential preventive interventions to ameliorate the risks for these at-risk youth.

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