More than 220 million learners were affected by 2020 school closures as a result of COVID-19.1,2 Children spent more time at home, where most child abuse occurs, and economic issues may have had a domino effect on children's mental and physical health. The aim of this study was to retrospectively assess whether the number, and reasons, for social work interventions due to family problems changed from 2019 to 2020.
Hospital child social work interventions increased during the COVID‐19 pandemic in 2020 and socioeconomic distress was the main cause