Evaluating the Epidemiology of Inflicted Traumatic Brain Injury in Infants of U.S. Military Families

Abstract

Background: Evaluating the incidence of inflicted traumatic brain injuries in young children, encompassing "shaken baby syndrome" and related injuries, is an epidemiologic challenge. Data available on US military families may complement other national surveillance efforts. Methods: A protocol was developed to assess the epidemiology of inflicted traumatic brain injuries among infants of US military families, leveraging data from the Department of Defense Birth and Infant Health Registry, healthcare utilization databases, child abuse reporting systems, and military personnel databases. The protocol and data strengths and limitations are described. Results: The primary strengths of data from US military families are related to full characterization of the denominator, such that analyses are person-time and population-based. Unique data are available to describe the full population of active-duty military parents, including occupational, geographic, and socioeconomic factors, as well as deployment-related potential stressors. The limitations of military data are similar to many other child abuse surveillance systems in that cases are underreported and not fully characterized. Linking abuse reports and medical utilization data to population data, however, will allow unique analyses of 'probable' and 'possible' cases of inflicted traumatic brain injuries in infants of military families. Conclusions: US military data, when appropriately linked and analyzed, provide opportunities to evaluate important risk factors for inflicted traumatic brain injuries in infants. Although epidemiologic challenges may make incidence rates using military data not comparable to rates using other data sources, multivariable analyses can evaluate critical and unique risk factors, as well as the effectiveness of prevention initiatives.

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Document Details

Document Type
Technical Report
Publication Date
Jan 01, 2008
Accession Number
ADA497051

Entities

People

  • Ava Marie S. Conlin
  • David W. Lloyd
  • Gia R. Gumbs
  • Heather T. Keenan
  • Margaret A.K. Ryan

Organizations

  • Naval Health Research Center

Tags

DTIC Thesaurus Topics

  • Active Duty
  • Brain Injuries
  • Child Abuse
  • Craniocerebral Trauma
  • Department Of Defense
  • Disability Administration
  • Health
  • Health Care
  • Health Services
  • Injury Prevention
  • Medical Personnel
  • Military Families
  • Military Personnel
  • Preventive Medicine
  • Public Health
  • Risk Factors
  • Wounds And Injuries

Fields of Study

  • Medicine

Readers

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