In response to the growing number of child abuse cases, the Health Ministry on Friday held its first press conference in a new series aimed at ending child abuse, with a focus on abusive head trauma in young children.
Ministry statistics show that child protection hotline reports have surged from 90,000 to 140,000 over the past three years—a 44% increase. Of the severe abuse cases resulting in death or serious injury over the past five years, nearly half were diagnosed as abusive head trauma. Alarmingly, 90% of those cases involved children under the age of two.
Linkou Chang Gung Memorial Hospital pediatric intensive care specialist Dr. Lee En-pei (李恩沛) said warning signs such as “panda eyes” (periorbital bruising) or bruising behind the ears may signal deliberate abuse. The mortality rate for such trauma is as high as 24%, and more than 70% of survivors suffer lasting neurological damage—including epilepsy, cerebral palsy, or intellectual disabilities.
Department of Protective Services Director-General Chang Hsiu-yuan (張秀鴛) encouraged parents to make use of local parenting resources, including family service centers and parent-child support hubs for in-person consultations. The Health Ministry also offers a range of online materials, such as instructional videos and parenting manuals.