CHILD ABUSE FACTS AND STATISTICS Physical Abuse:

Nonaccidental injury that may include severe beatings, burns, fractures, bruises, welts, or other physical problems.

PHYSICAL INDICATORS

Unexplained bruises and welts: on face, lips, mouth on torso, back, buttocks, thighs in various stages of healing clustered, forming regular patterns reflecting shape of article used to inflict (e.g., electrical cord, belt) on several different surface areas regularly appear after absence, weekend, or vacation

Unexplained burns:

cigar, cigarette burns, especially on soles, palms, backs, or buttocks immersion burns (sock-like, glove-like, doughnut-shaped on buttocks or genitals) infected burns, indicating delay in seeking treatment

Unexplained fractures/dislocations:

to skull, nose, facial structure in various stages of healing multiple or spinal fractures. Bald patches on the scalp

Physical Neglect:

A parent or caretaker allows the child to experience avoidable suffering or fails to provide basic essentials for physical, social, and emotional development.

PHYSICAL INDICATORS

underweight, poor growth patterns, failure to thrive consistent hunger, poor hygiene, inappropriate dress consistent lack of supervision, especially in dangerous activities or for long periods of time wasting of subcutaneous tissue unattended physical problems or medical needs abandonment bald patches on the scalp

BEHAVIORAL INDICATORS

feels deserving of punishment wary of adult contact apprehensive when others cry behavioral extremes: aggressiveness, or withdrawal frightened of parents afraid to go home reports injury by parents vacant or frozen stare lies very still while surveying surroundings responds to questions in monosyllables inappropriate or precocious maturity manipulative behavior to get attention, capable of only superficial relationships indiscriminately seeks affection poor self-concept begging, stealing food extended stays at school (early arrival and late departure) rare attendance at school constant fatigue, listlessness or falling asleep in class inappropriate seeking of affection assuming adult responsibilities and concerns alcohol or drug abuse delinquency reports that there is no caretaker

Sexual Abuse:

Exploitation of a child for the sexual gratification of an adult or older child. Sexual abuse includes fondling, sodomy, child prostitution, incest, and encouraging or forcing a child to participate in pornographic activities.

PHYSICAL INDICATORS

difficulty in walking or sitting torn, stained or bloody underclothing pain, swelling or itching in genital area pain upon urination bruises, bleeding or laceration in external genitals, vaginal/anal areas vaginal/penile discharge venereal disease poor sphincter tone excessive masturbation

BEHAVIORAL INDICATORS

unwilling to change for gym or participate in PE classes withdrawal, fantasy or infantile behavior bizarre, sophisticated or unusual sexual behavior or knowledge poor peer relationships delinquent or runaway reports sexual assaults by caretaker change in performance in school sleeping disorders/nightmares eating disorders aggressive acting out self-abusive behaviors: drug addictions alcohol addiction self-mutilation sexual acting-out on younger children

Emotional Abuse:

Emotional abuse exists when the parent creates a negative emotional atmosphere for the child. Examples are when the parent makes continued unfavorable comparisons to a sibling, when the parent makes the child feel bad because he/she is not perfect, or when the parent uses shameful forms of punishment.

PHYSICAL INDICATORS

speech disorders lags in physical development failure to thrive hyperactive/disruptive behavior

BEHAVIORAL INDICATORS

habit disorders (sucking, biting, rocking, etc.) conduct/learning disorders neurotic traits (sleep disorders, inhibition of play, unusual fearfulness) psychoneurotic reactions (hysteria, obsessions, compulsions, phobias, hypochondriases) behavior extremes overly adaptive behaviors suicide attempts developmental lags

HOW TO SPOT ABUSE

While most children do not directly disclose that they have been abused, there are many indirect behaviors and characteristics that are commonly observed in abused children. If you notice one or more of the following physical or behavioral indicators in a child, the possibility of abuse should be considered and appropriate investigative steps taken.

NUMBER OF CHILD ABUSE AND NEGLECT REPORTS NATIONWIDE

In 1997, over 3 million (3,195,000) children were reported for child abuse and neglect to child protective service (CPS) agencies in the United States. This figure represents a 1.7% increase over the number of children reported in 1996. Child abuse reporting levels have increased 41% between 1988 and 1997. Experts attribute much of the increase in reporting to greater public awareness of and willingness to report child maltreatment, as well as changes in how states collected reports of maltreatment (Wang & Daro, 1998). In 1997, 1,054,000 children were confirmed by CPS as victims of child maltreatment. This represents 15 out of every 1,000 U.S. children. According to the 1997 survey, physical abuse represented 22% of confirmed cases, sexual abuse 8%, neglect 54%, emotional maltreatment 4% and other forms of maltreatment 12%. These percentages have undergone some shift since 1986 when approximately 26% of the children were reported for physical abuse, 16% for sexual abuse, 55% for neglect, and 8% for emotional maltreatment (AAPC, 1988).

INCIDENCE OF CHILD MALTREATMENT IN THE GENERAL POPULATION

Currently, about 47 out of every 1,000 children are reported as victims of child maltreatment (Wang & Daro, 1998).

CHILD FATALITIES

The most accurate data on child maltreatment fatalities currently available estimate that in 1996, 1,185 child abuse and neglect related fatalities were confirmed by CPS agencies. Based on these numbers, MORE THAN THREE CHILDREN DIE EACH DAY OF ABUSE, OR NEGLECT. Since 1985, the rate of child abuse fatalities has increased by 34% (Wang & Daro, 1998). Young children remain at high risk for loss of life. Between 1995 and 1997, 78% of these children were less than five years old at the time of their death, while 38% were under one year of age (Wang & Daro, 1998). As for cause of death, 44% of deaths resulted from neglect, 51% from physical abuse, and 5% from a combination of neglectful and physically abusive parenting. Approximately 41% of these deaths occurred to children known to child protective service agencies as current or prior clients.

CHILD SEXUAL ABUSE

In 1997, approximately 84,320 new cases of child sexual abuse were accepted for service, accounting for 8% of all confirmed victims. This number underscores the substantial threat to child well-being represented by this form of maltreatment.

ABUSE IN DAY CARE/FOSTER CARE

Reports of child maltreatment involving day care centers and foster care homes attract a great deal of attention. Such publicity has created the perception that abuse is common place in these out-of-home settings. However, this perception seems out of line with reality (Finkelhor & Williams, 1988). Based on information from 18 states, reports of abuse in day care, foster care, or other institutional care settings represented about 3% of all confirmed cases in 1997 (Wang & Daro, 1998). This percentage has remained consistent over the past eleven years.

SUBSTANCE ABUSE AND CHILD ABUSE