Physical violence against children with disabilities: A Danish national birth cohort prospective study

Figures & data

Table 1. Risk of being a victim of violence, based on disability.

Diagnosis	Exposed to violence (N = 12,830)		Not exposed to violence (N = 557,521)		OR	95% CI
	n	%	n	%
Autistic spectrum disorder	324	2.53	11,448	2.05	1.24	1.10–1.38
ADHD	1,179	9.19	12,740	2.29	4.33	4.06–4.61
Speech disability	528	4.12	9,839	1.76	2.39	2.18–2.61
Sensory disability	191	1.49	6,771	1.21	1.23	1.06–1.42
Epilepsy	217	1.69	7,622	1.37	1.24	1.08–1.42
Intellectual disability	170	1.33	3,643	0.65	2.04	1.74–2.38
Brain injury	1,552	12.10	33,546	6.02	2.15	2.03–2.27
Physical disability	707	5.51	21,577	3.87	1.45	1.34–1.56
Dyslexia	51	0.40	1,352	0.24	1.64	1.22–2.17
Congenital malformations	1,421	11.08	55,652	9.98	1.12	1.06–1.19

Note: The table shows odds ratios (ORs) for being exposed to violence for each type of disability.

ADHD, attention-deficit hyperactivity disorder; CI, confidence interval.

Table 2. Risk of being a victim of violence, based on parental and family risk factors.

Risk factor	Exposed to violence (N = 12,830)		Not exposed to violence (N = 557,521)		OR	95% CI
	Exposed	%	Exposed	%
Mental diagnosis	4,949	38.57	105,183	18.87	2.70	2.60–2.80
Abuse (alcohol or drugs)	1,631	12.71	26,036	4.67	2.97	2.82–3.14
Violence (perpetrator or victim)	5,503	42.89	75,243	13.50	4.81	4.64–4.99
Out-of-home care	1,796	14.00	16,207	2.91	5.44	5.16–5.73
Child preventive measures	3,128	24.38	49,089	8.80	3.34	3.20–3.48
Relationship dissolved	9,402	73.28	259,784	46.60	3.14	3.02–3.27
Teenage mother	532	4.15	6,449	1.16	3.70	3.37–4.05
Unemployment	10,731	83.64	352,267	63.18	2.98	2.84–3.12

Note: The table shows odds ratios (ORs) for being exposed to violence for each type of family risk factor.

CI, confidence interval.

Table 3. Unadjusted and adjusted risk of being a victim of violence, based on disability and family risk factors (N = 570,351).

	Unadjusted OR	95% CI	Adjusted OR	95% CI
(A) Diagnosis
Autistic spectrum disorder	1.24	1.10–1.38	0.72	0.64–0.81
ADHD	4.33	4.06–4.61	2.17	2.03–2.32
Speech disability	2.39	2.18–2.61	1.38	1.25–1.52
Sensory disability	1.23	1.06–1.42	0.98	0.84–1.14
Epilepsy	1.24	1.08–1.42	0.82	0.71–0.95
Intellectual disability	2.04	1.74–2.38	0.94	0.80–1.11
Brain injury	2.15	2.03–2.27	1.77	1.67–1.87
Physical disability	1.45	1.34–1.56	1.36	1.26–1.48
Dyslexia	1.64	1.22–2.17	0.84	0.63–1.14
Congenital malformations	1.12	1.06–1.19	1.00	0.94–1.05
(B) Family risk factor
Mental diagnosis	2.70	2.60–2.80	1.31	1.25–1.37
Abuse (alcohol or drugs)	2.97	2.82–3.14	0.93	0.87–0.99
Violence (perpetrator or victim)	4.81	4.64–4.99	2.76	2.65–2.87
Out-of-home care	5.44	5.16–5.73	1.78	1.67–1.90
Child preventive measures	3.34	3.20–3.48	1.31	1.25–1.38
Relationship dissolved	3.14	3.02–3.27	1.80	1.72–1.88
Teenage mother	3.70	3.37–4.05	1.39	1.26–1.52
Unemployment	2.98	2.84–3.12	1.63	1.55–1.72

Note: Adjusted odds ratios (ORs) are based on a logistic regression of an indicator variable for being exposed to violence on (A) disabilities (‘Diagnosis’) and (B) family risk factors, and on gender, birth year, and ethnic background.

CI, confidence interval.

Table 4. Risk of being a victim of violence, based on number of disabilities (N = 570,351).

Number of disabilities	Unadjusted OR	95% CI	Adjusted OR	95% CI
1	1.77	1.70–1.84	1.43	1.12–1.83
2	2.56	2.39–2.75	1.67	1.02–2.72
≥ 3	2.80	2.47–3.18	1.80	0.81–4.00

Note: Odds ratios (ORs) are based on a logistic regression of an indicator variable for being exposed to violence on number of disabilities (reference group is no disabilities), diagnoses, family risk factors, gender, birth year, and ethnic background.

CI, confidence interval.

Data availability statement

The data are available in the Danish registers for researchers who are authorized and who apply for them.