Table 5.

Studies on child abuse

First author (Journal)	Country (ies)	Type of study	Main subject	Objectives	Age (n)	Lockdown /school closure and time of data collection	Outcome measures	Other factors (inequalities)	Summary of results
Garstang J, et al. (BMJ Open)37	UK (Birmingham)	Registry of child protection	Routinely collected clinical data from Child Protection Medical Examination	To determine any change in referral patterns and outcomes in children referred for child protection medical examination (CPME) during the COVID-19 pandemic compared with previous years.	Children (0–18). N=200 CPME	Data were collected for all CPME for 18 week periods in 2018, 2019 and 2020, from the last week in February to the end of June	Incidence rate ratiosIRR of CPME comparing 2018–19 and 2020		A significant drop of 39% (95% CI 14% to 57%) in CPME referrals during 2020 compared with previous years. CPME 2018= 78; 2019=75; 2020=47. Associated mainly to a school staff decreased in referrals.
Kovler ML, et al. (Child Abuse Negl)38	USA (Maryland)	Clinical registry (Johns Hopkins Hospital of Maryland)	Child abuse and maltreatment	To assess the proportion of injuries secondary to physical child abuse (PCA) at a level I paediatric trauma centre during the COVID-19 pandemic.	Younger than 15 years	Childcare facilities closed on March 27. Analysis: March 28 to April 27 and compare with 2018 and 2019	PCA during lockdown	Age, race, severity, type of trauma	Eight patients (13% of total trauma) compared with 4 (2019, 4%) and 3 (2018, 3%).
Baron EJ, et al. (J Public Econ)39	USA (Florida)	Allegation data from the Florida DCF. County-level, monthly information on the total number of allegations of abuse, neglect or abandonment of children	Child abuse and maltreatment	To analyse the Florida child abuse Hotline reported cases and compare with previous years	Children (not specific age?)	Official statewide stay-at-home order in Florida was 3 April 2020. Compare from January 2004–2019 with March and April 2020 monthly allegations	Number of reported cases associated to schools opened	Ecological data on county level of economic condition	15 000 lower (27%) than expected for these 2 months.

DCF, Department of Children and Families.