Citation

Eg MB, Graesholt-Knudsen T, Madsen KB, Obel C, Charles AV, Ingemann-Hansen O. J. Forensic Sci. 2023; ePub(ePub): ePub.

Copyright

(Copyright © 2023, American Society for Testing and Materials, Publisher John Wiley and Sons)

DOI

10.1111/1556-4029.15398

PMID

37792506

Abstract

Evidence describing age-related differences among children with suspected physical and sexual child abuse is lacking. We describe findings in severe cases of suspected abuse. Cases with 756 children <15 years old were included during 2001-2013 at the Department of Forensic Medicine, Aarhus University, using forensic evaluation documents, medical records, and court proceedings. Eight percent of children <4 years old died from child abuse, 36% through violence resulting in death, and 64% by manslaughter, whereas 1% > 4 years old died, solely by manslaughter. External injuries were mainly located to head and torso in children <4 years old, changing to the upper and lower extremities in older children. Child sexual abuse was suspected in 52% of cases with living children <4 years old, 83% of children 4-7 years of age, 88% of children 8-11 years of age, and 93% of children >12 years old. Anogenital findings were mainly caused by other medical conditions in children <4 years old, hymenal clefts in the superior half of the hymenal rim were almost exclusively found in children between 8 and 11 years of age, whereas both superficial and complete hymenal clefts in the inferior half of the hymenal rim were found in children >12 years old. The present study describes age-related differences in victims of suspected child abuse. Fatal versus nonfatal child physical abuse and the significance of hymenal findings in child sexual abuse could be studied further.

Language: en

Keywords

child abuse; child physical abuse; age-related differences; anogenital findings; child sexual abuse; clinical forensic medicine; forensic medical examination; physical injuries