Epidemiology of pediatric abuse- and neglect-associated emergency department visits in the United States: an analysis of the 2019–2022 National Hospital Ambulatory Medical Care Survey

Our findings show maltreatment-affected children across sociodemographics between 2019 and 2022, with more than 420,000 cases presenting to the ED annually. Our results showed that higher rates of maltreatment were found among children with substance use and developmental disorders. At the hospital level, maltreatment visits were often longer than usual visits, but with shorter boarded time - more arriving via ambulance compared to other visits. This underscores the urgent need for comprehensive education and training for all ED staff on how to recognize and respond to child maltreatment across diverse populations. Taking a comprehensive history as well as implementing evidence-based protocols can help increase sensitivity to child maltreatment in EDs across the United States.