title: Trends in reports of child maltreatment in the Northern Territory, 1999-2010.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To examine trends in reports of child maltreatment to the Northern Territory Department of Children and Families among Aboriginal and non-Aboriginal children.
  
  
  METHODS
  A historical cohort study using administrative data collections of notifications and substantiated cases of maltreatment among children aged from 0 to 17 years.
  
  
  METHODS
  Annual rates of notification and substantiation of different types of child maltreatment.
  
  
  RESULTS
  From 1999 to 2010, the overall annual rates of notification for maltreatment of Aboriginal children showed an average increase of 21% (incidence rate ratio [IRR], 1.21; 95% CI, 1.19-1.24). The greatest increases were in notifications for neglect and emotional abuse. There were parallel increases in rates of substantiated cases of maltreatment. Among non-Aboriginal children, the overall annual rates of notification also increased (IRR, 1.10; 95% CI, 1.07-1.14); however, changes in annual rates of substantiated cases for all types of maltreatment were not statistically significant.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  There have been considerable increases in both notifications and substantiated cases of child maltreatment, most prominently among Aboriginal children. It is possible that the observed increases reflect increasing incidence of maltreatment; however, they are also consistent with a mix of increased surveillance, improved service access, changes in policy and a shift in public attitudes.
authors.affiliation: Health Gains Planning, Northern Territory Department of Health, Darwin, NT, Australia. steven.guthridge@adelaide.edu.au
authors.forename: Steven L
authors.initials: SL
authors.lastname: Guthridge
authors.forename: Philip
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Ryan
authors.forename: John R
authors.initials: JR
authors.lastname: Condon
authors.forename: Leah M
authors.initials: LM
authors.lastname: Bromfield
authors.forename: John R
authors.initials: JR
authors.lastname: Moss
authors.forename: John W
authors.initials: JW
authors.lastname: Lynch
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D001315:Australia; D002648:Child; D002649:Child Abuse / Q000639:trends*; D002675:Child, Preschool; D015331:Cohort Studies; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007223:Infant; D008297:Male; D058028:Research Report