Citation

Thomas EY, Anurudran A, Robb K, Burke TF. Lancet Public Health 2020; 5(7): e371.

Copyright

(Copyright © 2020, Elsevier Publishing)

DOI

10.1016/S2468-2667(20)30143-2

PMID

32619538

Abstract

The call from Joht Chandan and colleagues to adopt a public health approach toward pandemic-related increases in domestic violence ought to be heeded. Adoption of their framework for evaluating and addressing domestic violence and child abuse and neglect can create public health benefits that far outlast the current crisis. School systems and youth-serving organisations can and should play a vital role in addressing the increased abuse and neglect of children during the COVID-19 pandemic.


In the USA, 20% of reports of abuse and neglect to child protective services are made by educational personnel, making educators the country's primary reporters.2 Despite evidence that the incidence of child abuse and neglect has substantially increased during the COVID-19 pandemic, in the initial stages of lockdown, Connecticut, California, Michigan, Kentucky, New Hampshire, and Louisiana all reported double-digit percentage decreases in reports to child maltreatment hotlines.3-5 These reductions do not reflect decreased incidences of child maltreatment, but unfortunately are a direct result of the precipitous decrease in contact between children, educational personnel, and other community youth programmes...

Language: en