Preterm babies face child abuse risk.

Australian Doctor,  March, 2006  

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By Cathy Saunders

INFANTS with poorer fetal growth or born preterm are at increased risk of child abuse, a large UK study shows.

Among a cohort of 120,000 births, researchers found lower levels of intrauterine growth and shorter gestational age increased the likelihood of a child being entered onto a child protection register.

Children born at less than 34 weeks were at increased risk of sexual abuse in later life. An increased risk of physical and emotional abuse and neglect was also found among children born before 37 weeks.

The findings were adjusted for maternal age ...

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