Current Approaches to Screening for Child Physical Abuse and Abusive Head Trauma

Purpose of ReviewTo identify and summarize the characteristics and performance of published child abuse screening tools.Recent FindingsMany victims of child abuse had been previously evaluated by a provider for injuries due to abuse but were not recognized as such at the time. Even in high-risk scenarios, providers do not always screen for child abuse.Many screening tools have been developed, including ones embedded in electronic health records, that can prompt consideration for further child abuse evaluation as well as standardize the approach, leading to provider comfort and bias mitigation. Identifying child abuse earlier can lead to quicker intervention, reducing its morbidity and mortality.