Child abuse and neglect
In 2015, 2.2% of the disease burden in Australia was due to child abuse and neglect.
These estimates reflect the amount of burden that could have been avoided if all people in Australia were not exposed to child abuse & neglect.
This estimate attributes the mental health and injury outcomes experienced at all ages attributable to exposure during childhood. Child abuse & neglect were causally linked to anxiety disorders, depressive disorders and suicide & self-inflicted injuries (see Supplementary tables).
How much burden was attributable to child abuse and neglect?
Child abuse & neglect was responsible for 27% of the disease burden due to anxiety disorders, 26% of suicide & self-inflicted injuries burden, and 20% of depressive disorders burden.
How did burden attributable to child abuse and neglect vary by age and sex?
Burden due to child abuse & neglect estimates the mental health and injury outcomes experienced at all ages attributable to exposure during childhood.
The majority of the burden due to child abuse & neglect was experienced in ages 15–54, peaking at age 25–34 years.
Of the burden due to child abuse & neglect, most was from suicide & self-inflicted injuries in males and anxiety disorders in females.
How has disease burden due to child abuse and neglect changed over time?
The rate of total burden due to child abuse & neglect (from all linked diseases) increased by 2.3% between 2003 and 2015 (from 4.3 DALY to 4.4 DALY per 1,000 population). This increase was only due to changes in the linked disease burden. The same exposure to child abuse & neglect was applied for all 3 years due to lack of suitable data.