title: The temporal-spatial distribution of seriously maltreated children.
abstract: This descriptive study utilized Bernoulli and Poisson spatial scan statistical models in SatScan v.9.4 to examine the distribution in space and time of residence of maltreatment cases-operationalized as families with serious maltreatment (resulting in death or hospitalization) of children under 6 years-for the presence of clusters ("hot spots"). In the Poisson model, a population dataset of serious maltreatment cases were non-randomly dispersed in four major areas, with these "hot spots" moving over time and space. Most cases were outside these clusters. In the Bernoulli model, the geographic distribution of a case-control dataset of families with serious maltreatment who were previously investigated by child welfare did not differ compared to controls previously investigated by child welfare with no serious maltreatment. Findings suggest that child fatality prevention efforts such as Back to Sleep and Never Shake a Baby campaigns should continue to be universal efforts, targeted to all parents.
authors.affiliation: Betty Irene Moore School of Nursing, UC Davis, 4610 X Street, Sacramento, CA 95817, USA. Electronic address: hsthurston@ucdavis.edu.
authors.forename: Holly
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Thurston
authors.affiliation: Ohio State University, College of Social Work, 1947 College Road, Columbus, OH 43210, USA. Electronic address: Freisthler.19@osu.edu.
authors.forename: Bridget
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Freisthler
authors.affiliation: Betty Irene Moore School of Nursing, UC Davis, 4610 X Street, Sacramento, CA 95817, USA. Electronic address: jfbell@ucdavis.edu.
authors.forename: Janice
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Bell
authors.affiliation: Department of Pediatrics, UC Davis Medical Center, 2516 Stockton Blvd, Sacramento, CA 95817, USA. Electronic address: djtancredi@ucdavis.edu.
authors.forename: Daniel
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Tancredi
authors.affiliation: Department of Internal Medicine, UC Davis Medical Center, 4150 V Street, Sacramento, CA 95817, USA. Electronic address: psromano@ucdavis.edu.
authors.forename: Patrick S
authors.initials: PS
authors.lastname: Romano
authors.affiliation: Penn State College of Nursing, 201 Nursing Sciences Building, University Park, PA 16802, USA. Electronic address: Sjm6101@psu.edu.
authors.forename: Sheridan
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Miyamoto
authors.affiliation: Betty Irene Moore School of Nursing, UC Davis, 4610 X Street, Sacramento, CA 95817, USA. Electronic address: jgjoseph@ucdavis.edu.
authors.forename: Jill G
authors.initials: JG
authors.lastname: Joseph
mesh_terms: D002140:California / Q000453:epidemiology; D002649:Child Abuse / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D002669:Child Welfare; D002675:Child, Preschool; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007223:Infant; D007231:Infant, Newborn; D008297:Male; D062211:Spatio-Temporal Analysis