title: The Burden of Child Maltreatment Leading to Hospitalization in a Provincial Setting in Papua New Guinea.
abstract: Child maltreatment is prevalent globally. In Papua New Guinea (PNG), child maltreatment remains an under-reported problem.
  
  
  
  As part of a 10 month prospective observational study conducted at Modilon Hospital in PNG, we investigated the burden of child maltreatment in the form of sexual abuse, physical abuse and neglect, leading to hospitalization in children ≤14 years.
  
  
  
  Of 1061 screened admissions, 107 (10%) fulfilled the definition of child maltreatment. The in-hospital admission prevalence of sexual abuse was 5.7% [60 of 1061; 95% confidence interval (CI): 4.4-7.3]. Neglect accounted for 3.4% (36 of 1061; 95% CI: 2.4-4.7) of admissions, while physical abuse accounted for 1.0% (11 of 1061; 95% CI: 0.6-1.9). Mortality was highest in the neglected group, with severe acute malnutrition accounting for 89% of deaths.
  
  
  
  Improved awareness, establishment of appropriate channels for addressing child maltreatment and enforcement of child protection laws in PNG and other epidemiologically similar settings are urgently needed.
authors.affiliation: Paediatrics Unit, Modilon General Hospital, P.O. Box 1200, Madang 511, Papua New Guinea.
authors.forename: Allanie
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Rero
authors.affiliation: Paediatrics Unit, Modilon General Hospital, P.O. Box 1200, Madang 511, Papua New Guinea.
authors.forename: Jimmy
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Aipit
authors.affiliation: Paediatrics Unit, Modilon General Hospital, P.O. Box 1200, Madang 511, Papua New Guinea.
authors.forename: Tina
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Yarong-Kote
authors.affiliation: Paediatrics Unit, Modilon General Hospital, P.O. Box 1200, Madang 511, Papua New Guinea.
authors.forename: Villa
authors.initials: V
authors.lastname: Watch
authors.affiliation: Obstetrics and Gynaecology Unit, Modilon General Hospital, Madang 511, Papua New Guinea.
authors.forename: John W
authors.initials: JW
authors.lastname: Bolnga
authors.affiliation: Obstetrics and Gynaecology Unit, Modilon General Hospital, Madang 511, Papua New Guinea.
authors.forename: Robert
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Vei
authors.affiliation: Obstetrics and Gynaecology Unit, Modilon General Hospital, Madang 511, Papua New Guinea.
authors.forename: Marilyn
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Morris
authors.affiliation: Papua New Guinea Institute of Medical Research, P.O. Box 378, Madang 511, Papua New Guinea.
authors.forename: Elvin
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Lufele
authors.affiliation: Paediatrics Unit, Modilon General Hospital, P.O. Box 1200, Madang 511, Papua New Guinea Papua New Guinea Institute of Medical Research, P.O. Box 378, Madang 511, Papua New Guinea drmlaman@yahoo.com.
authors.forename: Moses
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Laman
mesh_terms: D002648:Child; D002649:Child Abuse / Q000523:psychology / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D002650:Child Abuse, Sexual / Q000523:psychology / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D002670:Child, Abandoned / Q000523:psychology / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D002675:Child, Preschool; D005260:Female; D006306:Health Surveys; D006760:Hospitalization / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D044342:Malnutrition / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000523:psychology; D010219:Papua New Guinea / Q000453:epidemiology; D011203:Poverty; D015995:Prevalence; D011446:Prospective Studies; D012307:Risk Factors; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires
keywords: Papua New Guinea; child maltreatment; neglect; physical abuse; sexual abuse