Babies among abused Bay children

Medical staff keep a watch for cases of abuse.

Ten babies were among the 41 children admitted to Tauranga Hospital for suspected or confirmed child abuse in the past 10 years.

Two-thirds of the 41 children admitted to hospital as a result of suspected or confirmed abuse in that period were aged 5 and under, information supplied by the Bay of Plenty District Health Board revealed.

Seventeen of the children presented with maltreatment-related symptoms, including open wounds, bruising and bone fractures. One of those was a baby with a broken humerus (a bone in the upper arm), and another case was of a 1-year-old with a broken femur (a bone in the thigh).

Anthea Simcock

Ten children were admitted for suspected sexual abuse, including a 4-year-old with an acute inflammation to the back of the throat, a 3-year-old with gonorrhea and another 3-year-old with abdomen, lower back and pelvis injuries.

Nine children were admitted for suspected physical abuse. This included a 2-year-old admitted with a traumatic subdural haemorrhage (brain injury) and a baby with bruising to its eyelid and eye area.

The Bay of Plenty District Health Board said it could not provide the number of child abuse cases referred to police by its staff or the number of children that had died from suspected child abuse at Tauranga Hospital, as it did not collect that information. The health board implemented mandatory reporting of suspect abuse and neglect in 2007.

Health board family health team co-ordinator Raewyn Butler said that, from her personal experience, neglect would be the most common type of child abuse.

To identify abuse, Mrs Butler said staff looked for any injury that did not fit the mechanism of injury and any forms of emotional, physical or sexual abuse, and/or neglect.

Child Matters chief executive Anthea Simcock said those 41 children were likely only a small part of overall child abuse, particularly when neglect and medical neglect were included.

"We know statistically there are many more children that come to the attention of authorities that are displaying signs of neglect and child abuse.

"It is certainly our experience that many children's needs are not noted by professionals because so much effort by children and their families goes into hiding the signs and symptoms."

Ms Simcock said the bruises, cuts and broken bones were not the only signs of child abuse. People also needed to look at the child's behaviour and their parents' behaviour towards the child.

If a person had concerns they could try and help in ways such as taking the children for a weekend to remove pressure from parents.

An anonymous advice line was also available on 0508 FAMILY.

Detective Senior Sergeant Lew Warner said the abuse of any child was a serious concern and unacceptable.

Child abuse was a police priority and agencies such as Child, Youth and Family and the Ministry of Health worked closely with police.

"Abuse is a nationwide concern, not isolated to the Bay of Plenty District.

"We deal with everything from emotional abuse though to physical and sexual abuse, and tragically the occasional loss of life."