• Carol Orr, Scott Sims, Colleen M Fisher, Melissa O'Donnell, Rebecca A Glauert, and David B Preen.
• The School of Population and Global Health, The University of Western Australia, Perth, Western Australia, Australia.
• Emerg Med Australas. 2025 Feb 1; 37 (1): e14557e14557.

ObjectiveTo determine the association between family and domestic violence (FDV) exposure and ED attendance in Australian children.MethodsThe present study comprised a population-based retrospective cohort study using deidentified linked administrative data of children born 1987-2010, in Western Australia (n = 58 352). Multivariate Cox proportional hazards modelling was used to estimate the association of FDV exposure with ED attendance. Estimates are presented as adjusted and unadjusted hazard ratios (HR) with Wald 95% confidence intervals (CI).ResultsChildren exposed to FDV had a 35% (HR = 1.35, 95% CI: 1.32-1.38) increased risk of ED attendance than non-exposed children. Following model adjustment for sociodemographic and clinical characteristics a statistically significant increased risk of 21% (HR = 1.21, 95% CI: 1.18-1.23) was observed in FDV-exposed children compared to their non-exposed counterparts. When stratified by Aboriginal status, an increased risk for ED attendance was observed in both Aboriginal and non-Aboriginal children exposed to FDV, when compared to non-exposed counterparts (aHR = 1.13, 95% CI: 1.11-1.16; aHR = 1.42, 95% CI: 1.37-1.47, respectively).ConclusionsExposure to FDV is associated with an increased risk of ED attendance in childhood. The findings add to the limited literature providing further support that FDV exposure impacts children's health service utilisation and further supports that children's exposure to FDV as an area of public health concern. Attendance at the ED presents an opportunity for intervention.© 2025 The Author(s). Emergency Medicine Australasia published by John Wiley & Sons Australia, Ltd on behalf of Australasian College for Emergency Medicine.

26 keywords...

hide…