Child maltreatment poses a substantial health burden, but its impact on healthcare costs and productivity loss in Australia remains unclear. The objective of this study was to estimate the costs of health service use and productivity loss associated with child maltreatment in Australia. It finds that targeted investment in prevention strategies is urgently needed.

The Australian Child Maltreatment Study randomly surveyed 8503 randomly selected Australians (aged 16-65+). The researchers then generated the first, nationally representative rates of all five types of child maltreatment (physical abuse, sexual abuse, emotional abuse, neglect, and exposure to domestic violence) and their associated outcomes in Australia. The findings underscore the moral and economic imperative...

The authors examine the associations between experiences of child maltreatment and mental disorders in the Australian population. Child maltreatment is associated with increased risk of mental disorders.

The Australian Child Maltreatment Study has shown that the majority of Australians have experienced child maltreatment, and that these experiences are associated with substantially higher rates of health risk behaviours and conditions, including substance misuse, self-harm and suicide attempts. Sexual abuse and emotional abuse present the highest risks.

This study aimed to examine associations between child maltreatment and health service use, both overall, by type and by the number of types of maltreatment reported. It found that child maltreatment in Australia, particularly the experience of multiple types of maltreatment, is associated with increased likelihood of hospital admission with mental disorders, and higher numbers...