Child Abuse during the Pandemic and Trauma-Informed Care: A Review of Evidence-Based Literature

Abuse of infants and children is a public health problem that warrants immediate attention. It is estimated that over 7 million children are affected by child abuse yearly, with the highest rate of abuse in those less than one year of age. Approximately 60% of child abuse victims are children under the age of three years, making infants and young children a particularly vulnerable population. Interventions targeting the perinatal period can be effective in mitigating child abuse, including parent education programs and trauma-informed care services. This paper provides an overview of the current evidence base related to child abuse following the COVID-19 pandemic, with a focus on prevention and intervention strategies that can be utilized to increase caregiver support and reduce child abuse rates during the perinatal period.