Presentation (CTI)

OBJECTIVES: Child maltreatment (CM) poses a substantial health burden, but its impact on healthcare costs and productivity loss in Australia remains unclear. Thus, this study aims to estimate the costs of health service use and productivity loss associated with CM in Australia.
METHODS: Cross-sectional data (N=8503) from the Australian Child Maltreatment Study were analyzed to identify people with CM, their health service use, and employment status. Two-part models, comprising logistic regression and generalized linear models, estimated differences in health service use and average costs between those with and without CM. Unit costs of health services were sourced from national databases like the Medicare Benefits Schedule. Productivity losses were estimated using the human capital approach. Sensitivity analyses were conducted to examine the robustness of our findings.
RESULTS: Annual healthcare cost for each individual with CM who accessed healthcare services was A$1,722 higher than those without CM. Productivity losses due to unemployment averaged A$2,750 extra annually for those in the labor force with CM. These costs increased with the number of CM types experienced. A notable portion of health service use costs was likely attributed to mental health services. Subgroup analyses revealed higher health service use costs for individuals, particularly adolescents, with any emotional, physical, or sexual abuse. Findings mostly remained robust across sensitivity analyses. Overall, CM was associated with annual health service use costs of A$23.2 billion and productivity loss of A$24.1 billion.
CONCLUSIONS: CM imposes substantial health service use and productivity costs in Australia. Targeted investment in prevention strategies is urgently needed.