The Effects of the COVID-19 Pandemic on Violent Injuries in Children: A Literature Review

Christina Georgeades; Katherine T Flynn-O'Brien

doi:10.1016/j.yapd.2023.03.002

The Effects of the COVID-19 Pandemic on Violent Injuries in Children: A Literature Review

Adv Pediatr. 2023 Aug;70(1):17-44. doi: 10.1016/j.yapd.2023.03.002. Epub 2023 Apr 4.

Authors

Christina Georgeades¹, Katherine T Flynn-O'Brien²

Affiliations

¹ Division of Pediatric Surgery, Department of Surgery, Medical College of Wisconsin, 999 North 92nd Street, Milwaukee, WI 53226, USA. Electronic address: cgeorgeades@mcw.edu.
² Division of Pediatric Surgery, Department of Surgery, Medical College of Wisconsin, 999 North 92nd Street, Milwaukee, WI 53226, USA.

Abstract

The SARS-CoV-2 (COVID-19) pandemic and implementation of stay-at-home orders led to changes in the daily lives of children. Subsequently, there have been reports of increases in pediatric violent traumatic injuries. This review summarizes the existing literature regarding pediatric violent injury temporally related to the COVID-19 pandemic, including demographic, injury, and hospital characteristics in addition to associated factors. Key findings include an increase in fatal and nonfatal firearm injuries, particularly in minority and socioeconomically disadvantaged populations. However, more comprehensive and long-term data are needed specific to pediatric violent injuries to fully understand how the COVID-19 pandemic impacted trends.

Keywords: COVID-19 pandemic; Firearm injury; Intentional injury; Pediatric trauma; Violent injury.

Publication types

Review

MeSH terms

COVID-19* / epidemiology
Cause of Death
Child
Firearms*
Homicide
Humans
Pandemics
Population Surveillance
SARS-CoV-2
Suicide*
Violence
Wounds, Gunshot* / epidemiology
Wounds, Gunshot* / therapy