Child Abuse and Neglect and the Burden of the COVID-19 Pandemic on Families: A Series of Cases Consulted at the German Medical Child Protection Hotline

Tobias Heimann; Oliver Berthold; Vera Clemens; Andreas Witt; Jörg M Fegert

doi:10.1002/car.2714

Child Abuse and Neglect and the Burden of the COVID-19 Pandemic on Families: A Series of Cases Consulted at the German Medical Child Protection Hotline

Child Abuse Rev. 2021 Sep-Oct;30(5):485-492. doi: 10.1002/car.2714. Epub 2021 Sep 14.

Authors

Tobias Heimann¹, Oliver Berthold¹, Vera Clemens¹, Andreas Witt¹, Jörg M Fegert¹

Affiliation

¹ Department of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry and Psychotherapy University of Ulm Ulm Germany.

Abstract

Increased stress and decreased resources during a lockdown and social distancing can augment the risk for child abuse and neglect during the COVID-19 pandemic.Health practitioners should continue to be prepared for potentially rising numbers of cases of child abuse and neglect.Child protection services and mental health care should be considered essential and be available for adults and children at all times.

Keywords: COVID‐19; child abuse; child neglect; child sexual abuse; lockdown.

Publication types

Case Reports