Measuring the Incidence of Child Maltreatment Using Linked Data: A Two-State Comparison

Measuring and comparing the incidence of child maltreatment is challenging. Linkage of statewide birth cohorts with Child Protective Services reports to study incident child maltreatment over the life course are becoming more common. This study compares the reported incidence between 2 states derived from population-based administrative data linkages. Linked births (2009–2011) with Child Protective Services records (2009–2015) and deaths in each state were used to compare the cumulative incidence of a Child Protective Services report before age 7 years. Given differences in population race structure and documented disparities of race groups in Child Protective Services data, variation was adjusted for using direct standardization. Unadjusted cumulative incidence, race cumulative incidence, and race-adjusted cumulative incidence were compared. Analyses were completed in 2018. Before age 7 years, 26.0% of Alaskan children and 19.0% of Californian children were reported to Child Protective Services (RR=1.37, p