| Title |
Abuse risks and response during parental accompaniment in pediatric wards - addressing postpartum depression and psychological burden |
| Subtitle |
Resident Report |
| Authors |
Ayaka Akutsu1), Shunichiro Nakamura2), Mitsuhiro Nishida1) |
| Authors (kana) |
|
| Organization |
1)Department of Pediatrics, Shizuoka City Shimizu Hospital, 2)Department of Pediatrics, Keio University Hospital |
| Journal |
Journal of Japanese Society of Psychosomatic Pediatrics
|
| Volume |
34
|
| Number |
3
|
| Page |
413-419 |
| Year/Month |
2025 / 11 |
| Article |
Report |
| Publisher |
Japanese Society of Psychosomatic Pediatrics |
| Abstract |
[ABSTRACT] In recent years, as child abuse has increased, standardized abuse response protocols have been developed in emergency departments. However, the risk of abuse in pediatric wards, particularly during accompanying hospitalization, has not been sufficiently recognized, and systematic efforts are lacking. This study examines a case of abuse involving a 3-month-old infant during the mother's accompanying hospitalization, focusing on background factors such as the mother's postpartum depression, the infant's irritability due to infection, and the psychological burden associated with accompanying hospitalization. The hospital staff acted swiftly to protect the infant, despite a shortage of personnel during the night and inexperience with abuse response. However, no one anticipated the occurrence of abuse in the pediatric ward, and there was no emergency response manual in place. As a result, the safety and psychological care of the mother were not adequately addressed. In response to these findings, the study emphasizes the need for improved information sharing between obstetrics and pediatrics, as well as measures to reduce the burden on mothers during accompanying hospitalization. Additionally, an emergency response manual was created and distributed throughout the hospital. This research has the potential to contribute to improving the quality of abuse response in pediatric wards across all hospitals. |
| Practice |
Clinical internal medicine |
| Keywords |
child abuse, postpartum depression, pediatric ward, accompanying hospitalization, hospital protocol |