ORCID Profile
0000-0002-7697-5782
Current Organisation
Monash University
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Publisher: CIC Edizioni Internazionali
Date: 2015
Publisher: SAGE Publications
Date: 07-12-2021
DOI: 10.1177/18333583211060464
Abstract: Family violence homicide (FVH) is a major public health and social problem in Australia. FVH trend rates are key outcomes that determine the effectiveness of current management practices and policy directions. Data source–related methodological problems affect FVH research and policy and the reliable measurement of homicide trends. This study aimed to determine data reliability and temporal trends of Victorian FVH rates and sex and relationship patterns. FVH rates per 100,000 persons in Victoria were compared between the National Coronial Information System (NCIS), Coroners Court of Victoria (CCoV) Homicide Register, and the National Homicide Monitoring Program (NHMP). Trends for 2001–2017 were analysed using Joinpoint regression. Crude rates were determined by sex and relationship categories using annual frequencies and Australian Bureau of Statistics population estimates. NCIS closed FVH cases totalled 360, and an apparent downward trend in the FVH rate was identified. However, CCoV and NHMP rates trended upwards. While NCIS and CCoV were case-based, NHMP was incident-based, contributing to rate variations. The NCIS-derived trend was particularly impacted by unavailable case data, potential coding errors and entry backlog. Neither CCoV nor NHMP provided victim-age in their public domain data to enable age-adjusted rate comparison. Current datasets have limitations for FVH trend determination most notably lag times for NCIS data. This study identified an indicative upward trend in FVH rates in Victoria, suggesting insufficiency of current management and policy settings for its prevention and control.
Publisher: SAGE Publications
Date: 10-03-2019
Abstract: To examine the evidence base for patterns of oro-facial injuries in physical abuse cases of children and adolescents aged 0-17 years. Systematic searches of Ovid Medline, Ovid Embase, Cochrane Central and grey literature, dating from the oldest entry to August 2017. Search criteria included English language peer reviewed articles and theses on physical abuse cases affecting the age group of 0-17 years. Exclusion criteria were: Case reports and case series studies involving bite mark injuries elsewhere on the body, sexual, ritualistic or emotional abuse and neglect, exposure to domestic violence reviews book chapters and conference proceedings. The following data was extracted: quality and design of study, oro-facial manifestations, new/old injuries, fatalities, coexistent injuries, co-morbidities and radiologic investigations. Each study was subjected to two independent reviews and a third, if reviewers disagreed. The authors identified 51 articles, 26 of which satisfied the inclusion criteria. The oro-facial signs were superficial injuries of face, ears, neck, lips and oral mucosa, burns, torn fraenii and fractured teeth and jaws. A minority of studies stood out due to their well-developed design expert opinion inclusion new/old/occult injury investigations and facial bruising/ intraoral injuries as sentinel markers. Overall, the review demonstrated weak study quality and representativeness as well as lacunae in uniform reporting. The available literature does not endorse any pathognomonic signature patterns of child physical abuse to the exposed oro-facial region.
Publisher: ScopeMed
Date: 2013
Publisher: ScopeMed
Date: 2014
Publisher: JCDR Research and Publications
Date: 2014
Publisher: Elsevier BV
Date: 12-2013
Publisher: Oxford University Press (OUP)
Date: 09-2021
Abstract: The oral cavity is reported to be a key focus of physical injury in family violence (FV). Our purpose is to explore the potential opportunity for dentists to assist in the prevention of serious injuries in FV. This paper aims to describe the patterns of orofacial injuries in FV homicides. All FV homicides in Victoria, Australia January 2006-December 2018, were identified amongst closed cases of assaults screened for eligible victim-offender relationships. Epidemiologic trends in FV in the Victorian population over the 12-year period were determined. Sociodemographic, interpersonal, incident and injury characteristics including ICD-10 coding were studied and compared across facial and non-facial injury FV subgroups. There was a non-significant downward trend in FV homicide over the period. Of 170 adult cases, 150 were included for facial injury analysis. Of these, 117 (78%) showed orofacial injuries in the 12-year period. Two-step cluster analysis revealed blunt force and threat to breathing injury mechanisms to be significantly associated with facial FV and sharp force with nonfacial FV. Among the additional 26 child homicides, descriptive analysis elucidated patterns in 20 cases eligible for facial injury analysis. Coding limitations were found for the FV homicide cases. This population study reports significant involvement of the orofacial region in the FV homicide population during the 12-year study period, potentially informing dental practice and the related policy framework in Victoria and internationally. The significant involvement of the orofacial region in FV homicides may inform optimal intervention outcomes in FV in Victoria.
Publisher: Scientific Scholar
Date: 2014
Abstract: Leukoplakia is the most common premalignant lesion of the oral mucosa. We studied the colonization of Candida in oral leukoplakia using direct microscopy, culture and histopathology to determine if there is a statistical correlation between Candida invasion and the clinical appearance and presence of epithelial dysplasia in leukoplakia. S les were collected from 40 patients with oral leukoplakia and 21 controls. The swabs collected were used to inoculate Sabouraud's dextrose agar slant and for direct microscopy with Gram's stain. Culture growths were subjected to germ tube and corn meal agar tests to differentiate between Candida albicans and non-albicans groups. Biopsies were also done in all patients for histopathological confirmation Gomori's methanamine silver stain was used to identify fungal invasion of lesional epithelium. Nineteen cases of leukoplakia showed Candida on direct smears, compared to 3 controls. Eighteen cases and one control showed growth of Candida on culture. Non-homogenous leukoplakia showed a higher positivity rate on microscopy and culture than homogenous lesions. All these correlations were statistically significant. Forty percent of leukoplakia cases were simultaneously positive for Candida on direct microscopy, culture and histopathologic evaluation. No significant difference was found between non-dysplastic and distinctly dysplastic lesions with respect to Candida detection on microscopy or culture.
Publisher: BMJ Publishing Group Ltd
Date: 03-2021
Publisher: Elsevier BV
Date: 11-2014
Publisher: Medknow
Date: 2011
Publisher: Elsevier BV
Date: 11-2020
Publisher: Springer Science and Business Media LLC
Date: 08-11-2021
DOI: 10.1007/S12024-021-00402-Z
Abstract: Child family violence homicide (FVH) is a significant public health problem in Australia and globally. Population-wide studies of orofacial injuries in child FVH are uncommon despite their recognized importance. This whole population descriptive study of orofacial injuries in child FVH in Victoria, Australia aims to implement a novel methodological approach to provide an overview of child FVH and describe frequency and patterns of abusive orofacial injuries. Closed cases of child FVH aged 0-17 years, January 2000-December 2018, were identified from screening all Victorian assault deaths for eligible offender relationships. Significant associations of clinical/demographic characteristics were explored using two-step clustering and the Spearman correlation coefficient. Of 895 closed homicide cases, 358 were FV-related. Of the 53 child FVH, 40 were eligible for injury analysis with 36 of these cases (90%) having orofacial injuries. Among these 36 cases, 72% were aged 0-4 years, males predominated (64%) and the injury mechanism was blunt force for 56%. The discrete orofacial injury frequency was associated with the non-orofacial injury frequency (rho: 0.362, 2-tailed p < 0.03). A three-cluster statistical solution was identified, each represented by an injury mechanism. The largest cluster identified a pattern of blunt force trauma in 0-4 years with drug presence, high average non-orofacial injury numbers and parent-offenders. A novel methodological approach was implemented to comprehensively describe the frequency, nature, patterns and risk indicators of orofacial injuries in child FVH. It explored associations between a wide range of clinical and demographic characteristics, which might have otherwise been missed in summary description. These methods will potentially underpin future comparative studies of intentional-unintentional child injuries and fatal-nonfatal child abuse. The study narrows a significant research gap regarding patterns of inflicted injuries, and demographic and clinical indicators in child FVH potentially informing future systematic classification processes, risk assessment tools and pathways to FV intervention.
Publisher: Medknow
Date: 2013
Publisher: Springer Science and Business Media LLC
Date: 22-10-2019
DOI: 10.1007/S12024-019-00183-6
Abstract: This study standardized the methods used in the determination of orofacial injuries in Victorian family violence homicides and informed potential control selection for an analytic study. Dental service contacts with family violence victims may be intervention avenues due to the presence of abusive injuries in the orofacial region. All Victorian family homicides from January 2000-September 2018 were identified by determining the kinship/relationship and grouped by age. A 20% random s le of adult cases, aged 18-64 years was selected. The median number of orofacial injuries in categories of injury mechanisms/age/gender and the nature of abusive orofacial injuries was reported for the s le. Of 357 closed cases of family homicide, 261 were adults aged 18-64 years. Offender information and injury mechanism data was available for all closed cases, enabling case selection. Of a random s le of 50 adults, 8 cases were excluded. After 2006, CT scans and photos were present in 20 (91%) and 19 (86.4%) of 22 cases, respectively. The nature and median number of orofacial injuries showed correlation to the reported injury mechanism. Strengths and limitations of the used methods were assessed. Not all cases were compatible for assessment of orofacial injuries, thus serving as an additional criterion for exclusion in our methodology. Further detailed study of the whole population of adults should be limited to the period 2006-2018 where the data is more complete. The mechanism of injury may influence control selection for analytic studies. We present preliminary evidence of the frequent occurrence of orofacial injuries in family violence homicides.
Publisher: Springer Science and Business Media LLC
Date: 21-10-2019
DOI: 10.1007/S12024-019-00180-9
Abstract: Child protection measures are organized into three major themes: laws service programs and status of outcomes of these interventions. Contextually, mandatory reporting of child abuse and neglect is governed by a complex system of State legislation across Australia. The purpose of this review was to investigate the evidence base for the legislative obligations of Australian dentists as mandatory reporters the functionality of dental practice in the determination of orofacial signs of abuse and neglect and, relevant knowledge and practice demonstrated by the Australian dental work force. Our research question explores the role of Australian dentists in intervention of child physical abuse and dental neglect. Information was sourced from literature and web-based reviews. Peer reviewed articles included reviews and empirical studies. Official websites/databases were accessed for relevant legislation. The study found that child protection laws lack an evidence base for including/excluding dentists as reporters. Child abuse and neglect is associated with strong orofacial signs, thus imparting a key advantage to utilizing dentists as potential notifiers. An action response to child abuse is not seen in the Australian dental service. This review identifies gaps in the dental literature concerning mandatory reporting, calls for optimization of the related evidence base, and uniform Australian child abuse reporting requirements.
No related grants have been discovered for Reena Sarkar.