Clinical Findings Children Presenting with Non-Accidental Injuries to the Trauma Unit at the Red Cross War Memorial Children's Hospital

Abstract

This study intends to describe the patterns of Non Accidental Injury (NAI) in the population of children seen at Red Cross War Memorial Children's Hospital trauma unit. Child abuse is a serious problem worldwide and can be difficult to detect. Children who experience the consequences of abuse in most cases end up being treated at Emergency Centres. All children between the ages of 0 - 13 years will be sampled by the use of selective selection. Trauma registers and ward registers will be used to identify children with suspected non-accidental injuries. The data will be analysed to show which types of non-accidental injuries were most prominent, what the causes were, where they happened, who the caregiver was and how long it took before presenting the child to hospital after infliction of such injury. A previous study on non-accidental injury at the Red Cross War Memorial Children's Hospital by Van As et al for the period 1999 - 2005 noted that almost 40% of all fractures were skull fractures. This study will use these findings as a reference point, in addition to covering a wider spectrum of injuries. The results of this study will be submitted to a peer- reviewed journal for publication and will help in informing the Western Cape medical practice. Ultimately, the study will very much assist the Emergency Physicians in earlier detection of suspicious non-accidental injuries. Quantifying the burden of non-accidental injuries also allows for policymakers to decide on child abuse issues with supporting evidence. The study should there by assist in policy making and preventive programmes to combat child abuse in South Africa. Acronyms: NAI, NGO, HIV/AIDS, X-rays, CT, MRI, TBI.