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Child Maltreatment
Headline Among maltreated children, the percentage reported as neglected--as opposed to abused--increased from 49 percent in 1990 to 63 percent in 2005, while the percentage reported as sexually abused declined from 17 percent to 9 percent. (See Table 1) The causes of child maltreatment are not well understood, although abuse and, especially, neglect, are more common in poor and extremely poor families than in families with higher incomes.1 Child abuse or neglect is often associated with physical injuries, delayed physical growth, and even neurological damage. Child maltreatment is also associated with psychological and emotional problems such as aggression, depression, and post-traumatic stress disorder.2 In extreme cases, child abuse and neglect can lead to death. In 2005, approximately 1,300 children died as the result of abuse or neglect.3 In addition, child abuse is linked to an increased risk of substance abuse, eating disorders, obesity, depression, suicide, and sexual promiscuity later in life.4, Women who were victims of physical assault as children are twice as likely to be victims of physical assault as adults.5 Also, some evidence suggests that victims of child maltreatment are more likely than others to engage in deviant or criminal behavior as juveniles and adults.6 In the national statistical system that tracks child maltreatment, children are counted as victims if an investigation by the state child welfare agency classifies their case as either "substantiated" or "indicated" child maltreatment. Substantiated cases are those in which an allegation of maltreatment or risk of maltreatment was supported or founded according to state law or policy. Indicated cases are those in which an allegation of maltreatment or risk of maltreatment could not be substantiated, but there was reason to suspect maltreatment or the risk of maltreatment.7 Between 1990 and 1996, the number of children for whom child abuse or neglect was either substantiated or indicated rose from 860,577 to 1,011,973-a rate of 14.7 per 1,000 children under age 18 in 1996. Between 1996 and 1999, the trend reversed as the number of maltreated children dropped to 829,000-a rate of 11.8 per 1,000. The number of maltreated children increased slightly between 1999 and 2001, and has since stayed fairly constant at around 12 per 1,000, with 899,454 substantiated or indicated cases in 2005 (a rate of 12.1 per 1,000 children). (See Figure 3) Among maltreated children, the percentage reported as neglected increased from 49 percent in 1990 to 63 percent in 2005, while the percentage reported as sexually abused declined from 17 percent to 9 percent, and the percentage reported as physically abused declined from 27 percent to 17 percent over the same period. (See Table 1) Differences by Age Young children are more likely than older children to be victims of child maltreatment. In 2005, children ages three and under had a reported child maltreatment rate of 16.5 per 1,000 compared with 6.2 per 1,000 for children ages 16 to 17. (See Figure 1) Differences by Race8 and Hispanic Origin Non-Hispanic black, American Indian or Alaskan Native, and Pacific Islander children have higher rates of reported child maltreatment than do other children. In 2005, non-Hispanic black children had a reported maltreatment rate of 19.5 per 1,000 children, Pacific Islander children had a rate of 16.1 per 1,000 children, and American Indian and Alaskan Native children had a reported maltreatment rate of 16.5 per 1,000 children, compared with 10.8 per 1,000 non-Hispanic white children, 10.7 per 1,000 Hispanic children, and 2.5 per 1,000 Asian children. (See Figure 2) Note: Estimates for specific race groups have been revised to reflect the new OMB race definitions, and include only those who are identified with a single race. Hispanics may be of any race. Differences by Type of Maltreatment Reported rates of neglect are higher than other types of child maltreatment. In 2005, 6.3 per 1,000 children were reported victims of neglect, compared with 1.7 per 1,000 for physical abuse, 0.9 per 1,000 for sexual abuse, and 0.7 per 1,000 for psychological or emotional abuse. (See Table 2) Mothers Who Smoke While Pregnant, Foster Care, Attitudes Toward Spanking, Parental Warmth and Affection, Violent Victimization of Youth, Infant Homicide
State estimates for 2005 are available at: International Estimates None The Healthy People 2010 initiative has set a goal to reduce child maltreatment rates (from 12.9 per 1,000 in 1998 to 10.3 per 1,000 by 2010) and maltreatment fatalities in children (from 1.6 per 100,000 in 1998 to 1.4 per 100,000 by 2010). For additional information visit: http://www.health.gov/healthypeople/document/html/objectives/15-33.htm (Goal 15-33) What Works: Programs and Interventions that May Influence this Indicator Click here to view examples of programs and interventions that research has evaluated for this indicator. View programs
1National Research Council, Understanding Child Abuse and Neglect. Washington, DC: National Academy Press, 1993. 2Guterman, N.B., Stopping Child Maltreatment Before It Starts: Emerging Horizons in Early Home Visitation Services. Thousand Oaks, CA: Sage Publications, 2001. 3U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, Administration on Children, Youth and Families, Child Maltreatment 2005 (Washington, DC: U.S. Government Printing Office, 2007). 4Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, National Center for Injury Prevention and Control. Child Maltreatment; Fact Sheet. Accessed April 11, 2005. http://www.cdc.gov/ncipc/factsheets/cmfacts.htm 5Tjaden P, Thoennes N. (2000). Full report of the prevalence, incidence, and consequences of violence against women: findings from the National Violence Against Women Survey. Washington (DC): National Institute of Justice, Report No.: NCJ 183781. http://www.ojp.usdoj.gov/nij/pubs-sum/183781.htm 6Thomas, Leicht, Hughes, Madigan, Dowell. (2003). Emerging Practice in the Prevention of Child Abuse and Neglect. National Clearninghouse on Child Abuse and Neglect Information. http://www.childwelfare.gov/preventing/programs/whatworks/report/index.cfm 7U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, Administration on Children, Youth, and Families. Child Maltreatment 1999, 2001. http://www.acf.hhs.gov/programs/cb/pubs/cm99/index.htm 8Estimates for whites, blacks, American Indian/Alaskan Native and Asian/Pacific Islanders include Hispanics. 9Christoffel, K.K., Scheidt, P.C., Agran, P.F., Kraus, J.F., McLoughlin, E. & Paulson, J.A. "Standard Definitions for Childhood Injury Research: Excerpts of a Conference Report." Pediatrics, 89:1027-1034, 1992. 10U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, Administration on Children, Youth, and Families. Child Maltreatment 1999, 2001. http://www.acf.hhs.gov/programs/cb/pubs/cm99/index.htm Child maltreatment can be defined as "behavior towards [a child] . . . which (a) is outside the norms of conduct, and (b) entails a substantial risk of causing physical or emotional harm. Behaviors included will consist of actions and omissions, ones that are intentional and ones that are unintentional."9 Four types of maltreatment are generally recognized, including physical abuse, sexual abuse, neglect, and emotional maltreatment. In the national statistical system that tracks child maltreatment, children are counted as victims if an investigation by the state child welfare agency classifies their case as either "substantiated" or "indicated" child maltreatment. Substantiated cases are those in which an allegation of maltreatment or risk of maltreatment was supported or founded according to state law or policy. Indicated cases are those in which an allegation of maltreatment or risk of maltreatment could not be substantiated, but there was reason to suspect maltreatment or the risk of maltreatment.10 Data Source
Estimates for 2005: U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, Administration on Children, Youth and Families, Child Maltreatment 2005 (Washington, DC: US Government Printing Office, 2007).
Estimates for 2004: U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, Administration on Children, Youth and Families, Child Maltreatment 2004 (Washington, DC: US Government Printing Office, 2006).
Estimates for 2003: U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, Administration on Children, Youth and Families, Child Maltreatment 2003 (Washington, DC: US Government Printing Office, 2005).
Estimates for 2002: U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, Administration on Children, Youth and Families, Child Maltreatment 2002 (Washington, DC: US Government Printing Office, 2004).
Estimates for 2001: U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, Administration on Children, Youth and Families, Child Maltreatment 2001 (Washington, DC: U.S. Government Printing Office, 2003).
Estimates for 2000: U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, Administration on Children, Youth and Families, Child Maltreatment 2000 (Washington, DC: U.S. Government Printing Office, 2002).
Population estimates for 2000 and 2001: Original analysis by Child Trends of Bridged Race 2000 and 2001 Population Estimates for Calculating Vital Rates, National Center for Health Statistics, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. 2003.
Estimates for 1990-1999 (except rate per 1,000): Trends in the Well-Being of America's Children and Youth 2001. Table HC 2.10 U.S. Department of Health and Human Services. Office of the Assistant Secretary for Planning and Evaluation.
Rate per 1,000 for 1990-1999: U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, Administration on Children, Youth, and Families. "Child Maltreatment 1999." Raw Data Source U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, Children's Bureau, National Child Abuse and Neglect Data System (NCANDS). http://www.childwelfare.gov/ Approximate Date of Next Update April 2008
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