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JAMA Pediatrics Patient Page
April 24, 2020

Child Abuse Awareness Month During the Coronavirus Disease 2019 Pandemic

Author Affiliations
  • 1Department of Pediatrics, University of Florida, Gainesville
  • 2Department of Health Outcomes and Biomedical Informatics, University of Florida, Gainesville
JAMA Pediatr. 2020;174(8):812. doi:10.1001/jamapediatrics.2020.1459

April is Child Abuse Awareness month, even during the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic.

Social isolation, the public health measure now in place across the world, is also a proven risk factor for child abuse. Other risks include stress, uncertain access to food and housing, and worries about making ends meet. Owing to the current COVID-19 pandemic, we recognize that parents and caregivers feel overwhelmed with these stresses. They may be experiencing job loss, childcare struggles, and schedule changes.

With schools and daycare centers closed for weeks or more, children are no longer in the watchful eyes of their community. Teachers, counselors, extended family, and friends who routinely see children are now physically separated and unable to provide the same social and emotional support. Many school or community programs that prevent child abuse are currently on hold. The vital social distancing that attempts to flatten the curve for COVID-19 hinders these prevention efforts.

Research shows that all types of child abuse increase during school holidays and summer breaks and worsen during natural disasters such as hurricanes. We expect that throughout the course of the COVID-19 pandemic, when emotions are running high and children are more socially isolated than ever, child abuse will surge. Much of this abuse will be unreported.

While we face these challenges, parents and friends can help reduce the risk of child abuse in several ways. First, call, video chat, or email friends and family. This virtual contact and support can be a good boost for parents and gives children the opportunity to connect with someone outside of their home. Second, establish and stick to a family schedule. This provides structure and routine. Set meal times, bedtimes, schoolwork, and even play time can help with daily tasks. Starting or restarting rest time can help children and caregivers recharge. Third, find out about community resources. Many towns and cities have food banks and free meals for children and families. Some communities are creating fun ways for children to engage socially without physical contact. Chalk messages on sidewalks and teddy bear sightings in windows provide a way to connect. While small, these gestures reduce feelings of isolation. Fourth, financial stress is real. Mortgage lenders, student loan holders, and banks are taking steps to reduce, stop, or postpone penalties. Look into opportunities that may provide financial relief. Last, remember you are not alone. If you need help, you can call the National Parent Helpline at 1-855-427-2736 or the Childhelp National Child Abuse Hotline at 1-800-4-A-CHILD.

In many states, all citizens serve as mandatory reporters. If someone suspects child abuse or neglect, they are required by law to report these concerns to the police or state welfare agencies. By working together to look out for children, we may be able to help prevent cases of child abuse and neglect.

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Article Information

Published Online: April 24, 2020. doi:10.1001/jamapediatrics.2020.1459

Conflict of Interest Disclosures: None reported.

1 Comment for this article
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Protection of Children During COVID-19 and Beyond
Michael McAleer, PhD(Econometrics),Queen's | Asia University, Taiwan
The sensitive and informative analysis by pediatric healthcare experts should be required reading by parents and non-parents alike.

Although presciently and accurately dissected more than three months ago, the arguments are even more pertinent well into the COVID-19 era, which is arguably the most egregious social upheaval over the past century.

The new normal caused by the COVID-19 pandemic has placed greater stress on every member of society in terms of increasingly volatile social, economic, financial, racial, ethnic, healthcare, and education inequalities.

Social distancing, self isolation, quarantining, and lockdowns cause overwhelming distress to all members of society,
especially children, who are frequently neglected and whose voices go unheard in terms of opening up the economy, society, and schooling, in particular.

An unwanted, undesired and unwelcome, though not unexpected, side-effect from the loss of employment, income, and household savings seems to be increasing domestic violence against family members, usually women and children.

April might have been Child Abuse Awareness month, but such awareness should be every day, let alone every month, and increasingly so during a pandemic, where access to family and friends can be painfully restrictive in terms of much needed social, emotional, and physical support.

An internet search will show thousands of academic and non-academic articles that have been written on "Child Protection during the COVID-19 Crisis" by the International Centre for Missing & Exploited Children, among others, which provides the latest updates on the sadly needed child protection measures, including against human trafficking.

Children deserve to be safe, protected, and nurtured in their formative years, and civilized society should guarantee such essential and basic needs.
CONFLICT OF INTEREST: None Reported
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