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Child Maltreatment and Abuse

Child Maltreatment: History

Child Maltreatment

· Definition: The physical or mental injury, sexual abuse or exploitation, negligent treatment, or maltreatment of a child.

· Child under age 18.

· By a person responsible for child's welfare.

· Under circumstances in which the child's health or welfare is harmed or threatened.

Types of Child Maltreatment

· Physical abuse

· Sexual abuse

· Neglect

· Emotional abuse

Annual Child Abuse, maltreatment Incidence of Child Abuse and Neglect

· Fatalities: 2,000

· Serious disabilities: 18,000

· Serious injury: 141,700

· Substantiated incidents: 992,617

· Child abuse reports: 2.9 million, involving 1.9 million children

Child Maltreatment Statistics

· 2.9 million children reported as child abuse victims

· 1.6 million investigations

Characteristics child abuse, maltreatment of Families of Maltreated Children

· No risk differences exist for race or ethnicity

· Increased risk in single parent homes

· 77% higher risk of physical abuse

· 87% higher risk of neglect

· Major increased risk with poverty. Risk of harm is increased 22 times.

Factors Associated with Physical Abuse

· Perpetrator Features