Publication year: 2010
Source: Child Abuse & Neglect, In Press, Corrected Proof, Available online 2 November 2010
David L., Chadwick , Edward M., Castillo , Cynthia, Kuelbs , Susan A., Cox , Suzanne P., Lindsay
Objective: The authors’ objective is to describe the disparity between the case-fatality rates for inflicted versus unintentional injuries of children, and to emphasize its utility as a way of estimating the effectiveness of the ascertainment of inflicted injuries of children. Method: Determination, comparison, and explanation of the case-fatality-rate disparity in four injury databases were derived from hospitalized injury cases. Results: The CFR disparity is 6–14-fold in the 4 injury databases. The CFR disparity varies strongly and inversely with the observed incidence of inflicted injuries in the databases. Conclusions: A large disparity between the case fatality rates (CFRs) of inflicted and unintentional injuries exists in a number of…