Associations Between Child Maltreatment Intake Call Rates and COVID-19 Vaccinations and Outcomes in Georgia
Abstract
Child maltreatment (CM) is a significant public health problem. Parents, the primary perpetrators of CM may experience several risk factors and may engage in high-risk behaviors increasing likelihood of CM. However, there is a dearth of knowledge on health behaviors, such as vaccination uptake, among this at-risk population. This study explores the relationships between child maltreatment intake call rates from 2019-2022 and COVID-19 vaccination, infection, and mortality rates by county in the state of Georgia.
Child maltreatment intake call data were obtained from the Division of Family and Children Services (DFCS) for each year from 2019-2022. Independent linear regression models were conducted to model the associations between intake calls and cumulative vaccination, morbidity, and mortality rates. 2019-2022 COVID-19 data were obtained from the Georgia Department of Public Health. County child maltreatment intake call rates were arranged by quartiles. Using 2019 data, unadjusted models indicated a 21% predicted lower COVID-19 vaccination rate (p< .001), 6% higher infection rate (p< .001), and 81% higher COVID-19 mortality rate (p< .001) in counties with the highest quartiles of CM relative to the lowest. Upon adjusting for % Black, % Female, % rural, high school graduation, unemployment, median household income, and poor mental and physical health days, there was an 8% (p<.001) lower vaccination rate, 16% (p<.001) higher infection rate, and 16% (p< .001) higher mortality rate. Analyses for 2020-21 data are in process and will be discussed.
Interim findings suggest significant associations between intake calls with predictive lower vaccination rates, and higher morbidity and mortality rates in 2019 at the pandemic onset. Similar results are anticipated for 2020-2022 data. These novel results may have direct implications for related health outcomes among parents and youth. Implications for evidence-based parenting programs and future directions will be discussed.
Keywords
Child Maltreatment, COVID-19, Vaccines, Mortality
Associations Between Child Maltreatment Intake Call Rates and COVID-19 Vaccinations and Outcomes in Georgia
Child maltreatment (CM) is a significant public health problem. Parents, the primary perpetrators of CM may experience several risk factors and may engage in high-risk behaviors increasing likelihood of CM. However, there is a dearth of knowledge on health behaviors, such as vaccination uptake, among this at-risk population. This study explores the relationships between child maltreatment intake call rates from 2019-2022 and COVID-19 vaccination, infection, and mortality rates by county in the state of Georgia.
Child maltreatment intake call data were obtained from the Division of Family and Children Services (DFCS) for each year from 2019-2022. Independent linear regression models were conducted to model the associations between intake calls and cumulative vaccination, morbidity, and mortality rates. 2019-2022 COVID-19 data were obtained from the Georgia Department of Public Health. County child maltreatment intake call rates were arranged by quartiles. Using 2019 data, unadjusted models indicated a 21% predicted lower COVID-19 vaccination rate (p< .001), 6% higher infection rate (p< .001), and 81% higher COVID-19 mortality rate (p< .001) in counties with the highest quartiles of CM relative to the lowest. Upon adjusting for % Black, % Female, % rural, high school graduation, unemployment, median household income, and poor mental and physical health days, there was an 8% (p<.001) lower vaccination rate, 16% (p<.001) higher infection rate, and 16% (p< .001) higher mortality rate. Analyses for 2020-21 data are in process and will be discussed.
Interim findings suggest significant associations between intake calls with predictive lower vaccination rates, and higher morbidity and mortality rates in 2019 at the pandemic onset. Similar results are anticipated for 2020-2022 data. These novel results may have direct implications for related health outcomes among parents and youth. Implications for evidence-based parenting programs and future directions will be discussed.
