Are we back to normal? Evaluating the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on referrals to a child protection service in a tertiary care centre in Vienna, Austria - Scorecard - MDSpire
Clinical Scorecard: Assessing the Effects of the COVID-19 Pandemic on Child Protection Service Referrals at a Tertiary Care Facility in Vienna, Austria
At a Glance
Category
Detail
Condition
Child Maltreatment (CM)
Key Mechanisms
Impact of COVID-19 pandemic on referral patterns and psychological support needs.
Target Population
Children and adolescents referred for suspected maltreatment.
Care Setting
Forensic Examination Center for Children and Adolescents (FOKUS), Vienna, Austria
Key Highlights
Suspected physical abuse cases fell by 55.3% during the COVID-19 period.
Suspected sexual abuse reports increased post-pandemic.
Median age of patients in suspected sexual abuse cases increased over time.
Psychological support needs rose during the pandemic and remained elevated post-pandemic.
Pre-pandemic norms in CM reporting are unlikely to return.
Guideline-Based Recommendations
Diagnosis
Monitor changes in referral patterns for suspected child maltreatment.
Management
Ensure psychological support services are available during and after public health emergencies.
Monitoring & Follow-up
Track the evolving landscape of child maltreatment cases and victim age distributions.
Risks
Increased risk of child maltreatment due to pandemic-related stressors.
Patient & Prescribing Data
Children and adolescents referred for suspected child maltreatment.
Increased need for psychological support during and after the pandemic.
Clinical Best Practices
Safeguard detection and referral mechanisms in schools and social services.
Adapt prevention strategies and clinical protocols to address changing patterns in child maltreatment.
by Chryssa Grylli, Sophie Klomfar, Johanna Brandlechner, Laura Schaller, Katharina Weimann, Anastasia Pantazidou, Eva Mora-Theuer, Christoph Krall, Catherine Quantin, Susanne Greber-Platzer
