A new Monash University study has found that child maltreatment costs Australia $21.6 billion in annual health service use costs and $24.1 billion in annual lost productivity.
According to the World Health Organization, child maltreatment involves physical abuse, sexual abuse, emotional abuse, neglect and exposure to domestic violence.
The new analysis used information from the Australian Child Maltreatment Study (ACMS) – the first nationwide survey asking a nationally representative random sample of 8,500 people aged 16 and over about their childhood experiences, employment status and health care service use in the past 12 months. This gold standard data enabled the research team to understand the magnitude of child maltreatment in Australia, and its impact on the costs of associated healthcare and productivity.
This research recognises that child maltreatment is not only a serious social and health issue, but is also a major economic burden on Australia.
Professor Cathy Mihalopoulos, head of the inaugural Health Economics Group within the School of Public Health and Preventive Medicine at Monash University said the results show that child maltreatment does not only harm individuals and families but also places a huge financial strain on the whole country.
"This level of impact underscores the urgent need for policymakers to prioritise early prevention and intervention strategies to reduce both the health and economic consequences of child maltreatment," Professor Mihalopoulos said.
First author PhD Candidate Dai Quy Le, from the Health Economics Group within the School of Public Health and Preventive Medicine said individuals who experienced child maltreatment incurred an additional A$1,670 in health care costs per year compared with those who did not.
"They also experienced higher productivity losses due to unemployment, averaging A$2,750 per labour force participation annually. Overall, the total annual population-level costs attributable to child maltreatment were substantial, reaching A$21.6 billion for health service use and A$24.1 billion for productivity losses," Mr Le said.
Distinguished Professor Ben Mathews, co-author and Lead Investigator of the ACMS from Queensland University of Technology said this powerful new research from an expert team has discovered rigorous evidence of the massive annual economic costs of child maltreatment for Australia.
"It demonstrates that improving prevention of child maltreatment and service provision is not only an ethical imperative and a public health priority, but is also an economic necessity for the nation," Professor Mathews said.
"Australian government leaders, including treasurers, should use this evidence to promote the social good, reduce the national burden of mental and physical health conditions, and achieve substantial and enduring budgetary savings."
