Siblings should be screened in cases of suspected child physical abuse

siblings holding hands - Siblings of a child suspected of experiencing physical abuse should also be screened for abusive injuries, according to a new international consensus statement led by researchers at UCL and Great Ormond Street Hospital for Children (GOSH). The team of 27 researchers, from six different continents, are calling for a policy change to stop inconspicuous injuries being missed in contact children (i.e. siblings, cohabiting children, or children who are under the same care), and to help prevent further abuse. Physical abuse is a common but preventable cause of long-term childhood illness and death. The World Health Organisation (WHO) estimates that 300 million children aged 2-4 years regularly suffer physical punishment and/or psychological violence at the hands of parents and/or caregivers. There is also a strong association between physical abuse being experienced by both an index child (ie. The child who initially presents with suspected child physical abuse) and contact children; in 37% of cases, contact children will also have experienced physical abuse.