Information on Child Abuse and Neglect

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Child Abuse and Neglect

In 1960 when the term battered child syndrome was first introduced into the med--azure, it was estimated that fewer than 750 children were significantlyt7ery year in the United States. Fourteen years later, about 60,000 inci-daild abuse were reported. That number soared to 1.1 million in 19804 million in 1995. Investigation by child-protection agencies substanti-rlY 1 million of these reports. These statistics suggest that about 1.5 percent of children in the United States are abused every year. Of these, more thanas a result of their mistreatment. About half of these victims are babiesthan one year of age, and more than 85 percent are younger than five.

This dramatic increase in the number of reported cases of child abuse overthree decades is partly the result of increased awareness of the problemwith mandatory reporting requirements for health-care professionals,and others who work with children. In addition, the breakdown of fam-escalation of violence in many communities, and, most important, the deterioration of moral values (including loss of respect for all human life) in our culture undoubtedly play a significant role as well.

There is but one small bit of comfort to he found amidst these alarmingand trends: While without question all parents make mistakes and fallperfection—including saying or doing things that they later regret andwren apologize for—the vast majority do not repeatedly act in a way thatconsidered abusive, and likewise the vast majority of children are notabuse. Unfortunately, however, when mistreatment does occur, the causes most often is a parent, relative, or someone who has an ongoing relation with the child. It is uncommon for a child to be harmed by a total stranger.

Without a doubt the most sobering aspect of abuse statistics is a large numbers of individual babies and children—with names, voices, desires, and needs—who have suffered intense and often horribly usually at the hands of those who should have been nurturing and taking care of them. What is equally troubling is the enormous damage that child produces - deep physical and emotional wounds (which may not heal if they ever do), tortured memories, distorted relationships, and the like history will repeat itself when the abused child grows up and has his own children. Those who mistreat children—whether out of ignorance, irresponsibiliity, uncontrolled emotions, or actual intent and planning—cannot begin to understand the extent of these repercussions.

There are four basic types of child abuse: physical, sexual, and emotional abuse, neglect. Of the confirmed instances of abuse, roughly 50 percent involve some form of neglect, 30 percent involve physical abuse, and 20 percent imvolve sexual abuse. Neglect is more readily recognized in children under four years of age, who are unable to provide for their most basic nees. And while physical abuse can occur in children of all ages, life-threatening child abuse are seen more commonly in children under age three. All forms of abuse can occur individually or concomitantly, and emotional abuse can be assured when any other type of abuse is present.

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