The work of child protection groups in Austria

Aim: To document the number of child protection groups (CPG) in children's hospitals and paediatric surgeries in Austria. Further to document detection frequency of abuse syndromes per inpatients per year and structural differences between departments with and without CPGs. Methods: Self-compiled questionnaire was distributed to all pediatric (43) and all pediatric surgery units (7). Results: 68 % of children's hospitals and 100 % of paediatric surgical units had a CPG. Average detection frequency was reported to be 0.8 +/- 0.67 % (range 0-3.5). Distribution of CPG diagnoses is comparable, only sexual abuse was reported more frequently than reported internationally. Departments with CPG have more beds, more personnel, and especially more psychosocial workers and higher detection frequency. Conclusions: Frequency of CPGs is comparable to US and Swiss data. Detection rates are low normal, but in Departments without CPG far below international standards.