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PloS One 2024
Topics: Humans; Registries; Infant; Female; Male; Child Abuse; Shaken Baby Syndrome; Infant, Newborn; Hospitalization
PubMed: 38935744
DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0306433 -
Indian Journal of Public Health Oct 2023Child sexual abuse occurs in a variety of settings and the POCSO Act, 2012 came into force with effect from November 14, 2012.
BACKGROUND
Child sexual abuse occurs in a variety of settings and the POCSO Act, 2012 came into force with effect from November 14, 2012.
OBJECTIVES
A community-based cross-sectional study to assess the knowledge regarding the POCSO Act among adults in the rural community of Chandigarh was carried out in full compliance with ethical standards provided by the institutional research and ethical committee.
MATERIALS AND METHODS
A nonprobability sampling technique was used to select 190 subjects from Sector 56, Palsora, Chandigarh.
RESULTS
This study found that 55.8% have an adequate level of knowledge and 44.2% have an inadequate level of knowledge.
CONCLUSIONS
The variables heard or seen by a victim of child abuse have only significant associations with the level of knowledge.
Topics: Humans; Cross-Sectional Studies; India; Health Knowledge, Attitudes, Practice; Female; Adult; Male; Child Abuse, Sexual; Child; Rural Population; Middle Aged; Young Adult
PubMed: 38934821
DOI: 10.4103/ijph.ijph_1637_22 -
Indian Journal of Public Health Oct 2023Depression is a common illness, it being the fourth-leading cause of disability in the world. The global lifetime prevalence falls between 8% and 12%, with female...
Depression is a common illness, it being the fourth-leading cause of disability in the world. The global lifetime prevalence falls between 8% and 12%, with female preponderance. A cross-sectional study was designed to assess the burden of depression among married women in a rural setting in North Kerala and identify its sociodemographic risk factors. The sample size was calculated to be 453 (prevalence = 24.9%; error = 20%; design-effect = 1.5). Systematic random sampling was used to select the participants from the eligible couple register. They were interviewed using MINI and Montgomery-Ashberg Depression Rating Scales. Descriptive analysis showed that 24.2% was suffering from current depression, mostly mild and none severe. Two percent reported past depression and 5.4% experienced spousal violence. Poor family support, experience of domestic violence, morbidity, and older spouses were found to be significant risk factors. The provision of mental health services by trained personnel and strict vigilance against the marriage of girls below the legal age and domestic violence are need of the hour.
Topics: Humans; Female; Cross-Sectional Studies; India; Prevalence; Adult; Rural Population; Depression; Risk Factors; Middle Aged; Socioeconomic Factors; Young Adult; Marriage; Spouses; Sociodemographic Factors; Domestic Violence
PubMed: 38934818
DOI: 10.4103/ijph.ijph_1543_22 -
European Journal of Psychotraumatology 2024Childhood maltreatment (CM) can be divided into: emotional abuse (EA), physical abuse (PA), sexual abuse (SA), emotional neglect (EN), and physical neglect (PN). CM is...
Types of childhood maltreatment as predictors of posttraumatic stress disorder severity and complex posttraumatic stress disorder in patients with substance use disorders.
Childhood maltreatment (CM) can be divided into: emotional abuse (EA), physical abuse (PA), sexual abuse (SA), emotional neglect (EN), and physical neglect (PN). CM is associated with (Complex)Posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD/CPTSD) and substance use disorder (SUD). This cross-sectional study examined the relationships between CM-subtypes with PTSD-severity and CPTSD in patients with SUD-PTSD. Participants ( = 209) were treatment-seeking SUD-PTSD patients who completed the Childhood Trauma Questionnaire-short form, the Clinician-Administered PTSD Scale for DSM-5 and the International Trauma Questionnaire. Regression analyses and a model selection procedure to select an optimal model were used to examine CM-subtypes as predictors of (C)PTSD, adjusted for sex and age. Total CM and all CM-types significantly predicted PTSD-severity in the univariate regression analysis, with EA begin the strongest predictor. In the multiple regression only SA predicted PTSD-severity. Subsequently, model selection indicated that the optimal model to predict PTSD-severity included EA and SA. In the univariate analyses total CM, EA, and PN significantly predicted CPTSD-classification, and total CM and all CM-types significantly predicted CPTSD-severity. In the multiple regression for CPTSD-classification only EA and PA were significant predictors and for CPTSD-severity EA, PA and SA were significant predictors. In post-hoc multiple regression analyses, only EA was a significant predictor of CPTSD-classification and CPTSD-severity. Finally, in the model selection the most parsimonious model only included EA for both CPTSD-classification and CPTSD-severity. Sex was not a moderator in the relationship between CM and PTSD, nor in CM and CPTSD. These findings indicate that for SUD-PTSD patients, several CM-types have predictive value for (C)PTSD-severity, however SA and especially EA appear to contribute to these complaints. Since EA does not constitute an A-criterion, it is generally more overlooked in PTSD treatment. Its impact should therefore be underlined, and clinicians should be attentive to EA in their treatment.
Topics: Humans; Stress Disorders, Post-Traumatic; Male; Female; Substance-Related Disorders; Cross-Sectional Studies; Adult; Surveys and Questionnaires; Child Abuse; Adult Survivors of Child Abuse; Middle Aged; Severity of Illness Index; Child
PubMed: 38934350
DOI: 10.1080/20008066.2024.2367179 -
International Journal of Environmental... Jun 2024To determine whether maternal Adverse Childhood Experiences (ACEs) are (a) associated with increased inflammatory gene expression in mother-child dyads and (b) whether a... (Randomized Controlled Trial)
Randomized Controlled Trial
OBJECTIVE
To determine whether maternal Adverse Childhood Experiences (ACEs) are (a) associated with increased inflammatory gene expression in mother-child dyads and (b) whether a parenting intervention (ATTACH™) moderates the association between maternal ACEs and mother and/or child inflammatory gene expression.
METHODS
Twenty mother-child dyads, recruited from a domestic violence shelter in Calgary, AB, Canada, were randomized into an ATTACH™ parenting intervention group ( = 9) or a wait-list control group ( = 11). Maternal ACEs were assessed. The mothers and children each provided one non-fasting blood sample after the intervention group completed the ATTACH™ program, which was assayed to quantify the Conserved Transcriptional Response to Adversity (CTRA) score, indicating inflammatory gene expression profile. Mixed-effect linear models were used, separately in mothers and children, to examine the associations between CTRA score, maternal ACEs, and the ACEs-by-intervention group interaction term. The covariates were age, sex, ethnicity, and maternal medication use.
RESULTS
Higher maternal ACEs were associated with higher child CTRA scores ( = 0.123 ± SE 0.044, = 0.005), indicating an increased pro-inflammatory gene expression profile. The ATTACH™ parenting intervention moderated this association between maternal ACEs and child CTRA scores ( = 0.328 ± SE 0.133, = 0.014). In mothers, the ACEs-by-intervention interaction terms were insignificant ( = 0.305).
CONCLUSIONS
Maternal ACEs could exert an intergenerational impact on child inflammatory activity, and this association could be moderated by participating in the ATTACH™ parenting intervention.
Topics: Humans; Female; Adverse Childhood Experiences; Male; Adult; Child; Parenting; Gene Expression; Mothers; Child, Preschool; Inflammation
PubMed: 38929022
DOI: 10.3390/ijerph21060776 -
Research Involvement and Engagement Jun 2024Clustering and co-occurring of family adversities, including mental health problems, substance use, domestic violence and abuse, as well as poverty can increase health...
Co-design workshops with families experiencing multiple and interacting adversities including parental mental health, substance use, domestic violence, and poverty: intervention principles and insights from mothers, fathers, and young people.
BACKGROUND
Clustering and co-occurring of family adversities, including mental health problems, substance use, domestic violence and abuse, as well as poverty can increase health and behavioural risks for children, which persist throughout the life course. Yet, interventions that acknowledge and account for the complex interactive nature of such risks are limited. This study aimed to develop intervention principles based on reflections from mothers, fathers, and young people who experience multiple and interacting adversities. These principles will show how family members perceive an intervention may bring about positive change and highlight key insights into design and delivery.
METHODS
A series of six co-design workshops with mothers, fathers, and young people who experienced multiple and interacting adversities (n = 41) were iteratively conducted across two regions in England (London and North-East) by four researchers. Workshop content and co-design activities were informed by advisory groups. Data from facilitator notes and activities were analysed thematically, resulting in a set of intervention principles.
RESULTS
The intervention principles highlighted that: (1) to reduce isolation and loneliness parents and young people wanted to be connected to services, resources, and peer support networks within their local community, particularly by a knowledgeable and friendly community worker; (2) to address feelings of being misunderstood, parents and young people wanted the development of specialised trauma informed training for practitioners and to have the space to build trusting, gradual, and non-stigmatising relationships with practitioners; and (3) to address the needs and strengths of individual family members, mothers, fathers, and young people wanted separate, tailored, and confidential support.
CONCLUSIONS
The current study has important implications for practice in supporting families that experience multiple and interacting adversities. The intervention principles from this study share common characteristics with other intervention models currently on offer in the United Kingdom, including social prescribing, but go beyond these to holistically consider the whole families' needs, environments, and circumstances. There should be particular focus on the child's as well as the mothers' and fathers' needs, independently of the family unit. Further refinement and piloting of the developing intervention are needed.
PubMed: 38926798
DOI: 10.1186/s40900-024-00584-0 -
Journal of Public Health (Oxford,... Jun 2024Existing research has acknowledged a correlation between stress in pregnancy and poorer respiratory health in offspring. However, research focusing on stress caused by...
BACKGROUND
Existing research has acknowledged a correlation between stress in pregnancy and poorer respiratory health in offspring. However, research focusing on stress caused by family and domestic violence in the prenatal period is missing.
METHODS
A retrospective cohort study included children born 1987-2010 who were identified as being exposed to FDV in the prenatal period (n = 1477) from two sources: WA Police Information Management System and WA Hospital Morbidity Data Collection (HMDC) and a non-exposed comparison group (n = 41 996). Hospitalization for bronchiolitis was identified in HMDC. Cox regression was used to estimate the adjusted and unadjusted hazard ratio and 95% confidence interval for bronchiolitis hospitalizations contact.
RESULTS
Children exposed to FDV had a 70% (HR 1.70, 95% CI: 1.49-1.94) increased risk of hospitalization for bronchiolitis than non-exposed counterparts by age two. Children exposed to FDV had a longer average hospital stay for bronchiolitis than non-exposed children (4.0 days vs. 3.8 days, P < 0.001).
CONCLUSIONS
Prenatal exposure to FDV is associated with bronchiolitis hospitalization in children <2 years. Along with other risk factors, clinicians should give consideration to maternal stress factors, including experiencing FDV as a potential contributor to bronchiolitis.
PubMed: 38925867
DOI: 10.1093/pubmed/fdae120 -
Forensic Science, Medicine, and... Jun 2024Chronic Traumatic Encephalopathy, or CTE, is an entity characterized by neurological deficits that are thought to arise from repetitive episodes of blunt head trauma. It...
Chronic Traumatic Encephalopathy, or CTE, is an entity characterized by neurological deficits that are thought to arise from repetitive episodes of blunt head trauma. It has gained considerable attention recently in those who have engaged in contact sports. However, given that it is caused by mechanical cerebral strain from nonspecific blunt impact, it seems reasonable to assume that it could arise from a multitude of causes, such as craniocentric domestic violence. While the literature is somewhat contradictory, the possibilities are that CTE may be caused by either the incremental additive effects of less severe trauma, or from more forceful impacts, or from a combination of both of these mechanisms. Another issue to consider is the degree of acceleration/rotation trauma associated with particular events. Careful study of the chronology, nature and dose-relationships of previous head impacts in victims of inflicted lethal head trauma will, therefore, be required. This will help to clarify its significance in cases of domestic violence and also specifically whether it can be additive from more minor impacts, or whether there is a threshold of force required before it occurs.
PubMed: 38916792
DOI: 10.1007/s12024-024-00856-x -
Trauma, Violence & Abuse Jun 2024Domestic violence (DV) is a prevalent social problems that threaten individuals' health and well-being, and the issue of DV in Asian communities requires extensive and... (Review)
Review
Domestic violence (DV) is a prevalent social problems that threaten individuals' health and well-being, and the issue of DV in Asian communities requires extensive and comprehensive investigation. Following the steps by Arksey and O'Malley, a scoping review was conducted to (a) summarize and synthesize existing quantitative evidence on the topic of DV in Asian immigrant communities in North America, and (b) identify research gaps in the literature to guide future work. Inclusion criteria were that (a) the studies must comprise a sample of Asian immigrants in North America, (b) the focus of the article was specifically on individuals' experiences of DV in the past year or lifetime, (c) DV was measured as either independent or dependent variable, (d) full-text publications written in English, (e) articles must be peer-reviewed, quantitative studies. On completion of the review process, 35 full-text articles were identified for review. Across studies, five main topics emerged: factors related to DV victimization, prevalence and forms of DV, individuals' attitudes and/or perceptions about DV, DV-related consequences, and intervention evaluation. Some less common topics include help-seeking behaviors and sources and culturally responsive scales. The findings of this review suggest that future research will benefit from using a nationally representative Asian sample and culturally sensitive tools, examining potential protective factors against DV victimization, and employing an experimental design to evaluate the effectiveness of culturally sensitive interventions. Policies should provide stronger support to agencies and practitioners to deliver culturally sensitive services.
PubMed: 38912615
DOI: 10.1177/15248380241263313 -
European Journal of Psychotraumatology 2024Emerging evidence has linked childhood maltreatment with cardiovascular disease risk; however, the association between childhood maltreatment and cardiac arrhythmias...
Emerging evidence has linked childhood maltreatment with cardiovascular disease risk; however, the association between childhood maltreatment and cardiac arrhythmias remains unclear. Moreover, any genetic predispositions to atrial fibrillation (AF), a common cardiac arrhythmia associated with an elevated risk of stroke, heart failure, and mortality, that modify such associations have been undocumented. To examine the associations between childhood maltreatment and incident arrhythmias, and whether a genetic predisposition to arrhythmias modifies these associations. This prospective analysis included 151,741 participants from the UK Biobank (mean age 55.8 years, 43.4% male). Childhood maltreatment, including five types, was measured using the Childhood Trauma Screener (CTS). Incident arrhythmias (AF, ventricular arrhythmias [VA], and bradyarrhythmia [BA]) were documented through linked hospital admission and death registry. Weighted AF genetic risk score was calculated. Cox proportional hazard models were conducted to test for associations between childhood maltreatment and incident arrhythmias. During a median follow-up of 12.21 years (interquartile range, 11.49-12.90 years), 6,588 AF, 2,093 BA, and 742 VA events occurred. Compared with the absence of childhood maltreatment, having 3-5 types of childhood maltreatment was associated with an increased risk of incident AF (HR, 1.23; 95%CI 1.09-1.37), VA (HR, 1.39; 95%CI 1.03-1.89), and BA (HR, 1.32; 95%CI 1.09-1.61) after adjusting demographic, socioeconomic and lifestyle factors. The associations between cumulative type of childhood maltreatment and the risk of AF (< .001; = .674) and BA (= .007; = .377) demonstrated a linear pattern. There was a gradient association between childhood maltreatment and AF risks across the intermediate and high genetic risk groups (both < .05) but not within the low genetic risk group (= .378), irrespective of non-significant interaction effect (= .204). Childhood maltreatment was associated with higher risks of incident arrhythmias, especially AF and BA. Genetic risk of AF did not modify these associations.
Topics: Humans; Male; Female; Prospective Studies; Arrhythmias, Cardiac; Middle Aged; United Kingdom; Risk Factors; Genetic Predisposition to Disease; Adult; Cohort Studies; Adult Survivors of Child Abuse; Child Abuse
PubMed: 38912597
DOI: 10.1080/20008066.2024.2366055