by Osaka Metropolitan University

Credit: Pixabay/CC0 Public Domain

An Osaka Metropolitan University-led research group evaluated the prevalence and risk factors for child maltreatment in multiples aged 3 years and compared them to singletons in Japanese population-based data. The study is published in the journal Twin Research and Human Genetics.

Records on child maltreatment and health check-ups at 3 years of age from 17, 125 singletons, 488 twins and 18 triplets were collected from a Public Health Center between April 2007 and March 2011. The associations of child maltreatment with potential risk factors were analyzed using the logistic regression model.

Out of all children, 76 (4.31 per 1, 000) children had documented maltreatment, including 69 (4.03 per 1000) singletons and seven (14.31 per 1, 000) twins. All of the cases in twins were physical abuse (100%) and nearly half of the cases (43%) included emotional abuse. Among twins, 86% of the biological mothers were suspected. The alleged perpetrators of twins showed a significantly higher rate of maternal depression compared to those of singletons.

After adjusting the results for a number of potential biological and social risk factors, twins or triplets had a higher risk of maltreatment than singletons (OR 3.39, 95% CI [1.17, 9.83]).

Health care providers should be aware that a multiple birth can place considerable stress on a family, leading to child maltreatment, and should provide appropriate support and intervention for mothers with multiples.

More information: Yoshie Yokoyama et al, Risk Factor for Child Maltreatment at 3 Years of Age in Japanese Multiples and Singletons: A Population-Based Study, Twin Research and Human Genetics (2024). DOI: 10.1017/thg.2024.42