Child Physical Abuse and COVID-19: Trends from Nine Pediatric Trauma Centers

This nine-center retrospective study examined child physical abuse admission rates during early COVID-19 shelter-in-place orders (April-June 2020) versus the same 2019 period. Despite hypothesized increases due to pandemic stressors, no significant differences in abuse cases, injury severity, or outcomes were observed, though under-reporting and delayed presentations remain concerns requiring long-term surveillance.