The Australian Child Maltreatment Study: National prevalence and associated health outcomes of child abuse and neglect

To the Editor: Mathews and colleagues recently reported on the prevalence of child maltreatment in Australia and its association with adverse outcomes, drawing on a population survey of 8503 people aged 16 years and over — the Australian Child Maltreatment Study (ACMS).

Understanding the extent of child maltreatment and those most at risk is of considerable importance to policy and practice, noting the widely documented negative impacts on health, education, employment, and other social and economic outcomes. A strong dose–response relationship has also been reported; the more disturbing the child maltreatment, the worse the reported outcomes, and conversely the lower the child protection concern, the lower the risk of harms...