Relationship between the COVID-19 pandemic and structural inequalities within the pediatric trauma population

Part of COVID-19 Pandemic Impact 4 items

pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov

Meera Kotagal

Background: The COVID-19 pandemic disrupted social, political, and economic life across the world, shining a light on the vulnerability of many communities. The objective of this study was to assess injury patterns before and after implementation of stay-at-home orders (SHOs) between White children and children of color and across varying levels of vulnerability based upon children's home residence. Methods: A multi-institutional retrospective study was conducted evaluating patients < 18 years with traumatic injuries. A "Control" cohort from an averaged March-September 2016-2019 time period was compared to patients injured after SHO initiation-September 2020 ("COVID" cohort). Interactions between race/ethnicity or social vulnerability index (SVI), a marker of neighborhood vulnerability and socioeconomic status, and the COVID-19 timeframe with regard to the outcomes of interest were assessed using likelihood ratio Chi-square tests. Differences in injury intent, type, and mechanism were then stratified and explored by race/ethnicity and SVI separately. Results: A total of 47,385 patients met study inclusion. Significant interactions existed between race/ethnicity and the COVID-19 SHO period for intent (p < 0.001) and mechanism of injury (p < 0.001). There was also significant interaction between SVI and the COVID-19 SHO period for mechanism of injury (p = 0.01). Children of color experienced a significant increase in intentional (COVID 16.4% vs. Control 13.7%, p = 0.03) and fir

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Article · Nov 2023 · 1 min read

In brief

Multi-institutional study examining how COVID-19 stay-at-home orders differentially impacted pediatric trauma patterns across racial/ethnic groups and socioeconomic strata. Children of color experienced significant increases in intentional injuries during the pandemic period compared to pre-pandemic controls, highlighting structural vulnerabilities amplified by social disruption.

Written by the GCMD Library team from the article.

Meera Kotagal

Statements in this article

The study compared pediatric trauma patients from an averaged March-September 2016-2019 control period to patients injured between stay-at-home order initiation and September 2020.
EstablishedMethods
Social vulnerability index (SVI) serves as a marker of neighborhood vulnerability and socioeconomic status.
EstablishedMethods
A total of 47,385 pediatric patients under 18 years with traumatic injuries met study inclusion criteria.
ResearchResults
Significant interactions existed between race/ethnicity and the COVID-19 stay-at-home period for intent of injury (p < 0.001).
ResearchResults
Significant interactions existed between race/ethnicity and the COVID-19 stay-at-home period for mechanism of injury (p < 0.001).
ResearchResults
Significant interaction existed between social vulnerability index and the COVID-19 stay-at-home period for mechanism of injury (p = 0.01).
ResearchResults
Children of color experienced a significant increase in intentional injuries during COVID-19 compared to the control period (16.4% vs. 13.7%, p = 0.03).
ResearchResults