Also in 1996, an estimated 3,126,000 children were reported to Child Protective Services (CPS) agencies as alleged victims of child maltreatment. Child abuse reports have maintained a steady growth for the past ten years, with the total number of reports nationwide increasing 45% since 1987. In 1995, an estimated 1,215 child abuse and neglect related fatalities were confirmed by CPS agencies. Since 1985, the rate of child abuse fatalities has increased by 39%. Based on these numbers, more than three children die each day as a result of child abuse and neglect. Approximately 54% of the deaths were due to physical abuse while 43% were from neglect. A study found that 82 % of these children were under the age of five while an alarming 42% were under the age of one at the time of their death.
According to the Third National Incidence Study of child maltreatment released by the National Center on Child Abuse and Neglect, boys are at a greater risk of serious injury and of emotional neglect then are girls. However, girls are sexually abused three times more often than boys. The NIS found no race differences in maltreatment incidence. Poverty is significantly related to incidence rates in nearly every category of maltreatment. Children in families with annual incomes below $15,000 are more than 22 times more likely to experience maltreatment, more than 44 times more likely to be neglected, and 60 times more likely to die from maltreatment.
The reason for this is that parents living in poverty have increased number of crisis in their lives. They have limited access to economic or social resources for support during times of stress and there is usually increased violence in the communities where they live. Over 90% of abusive parents do not have a psychotic or criminal personality. Many times they are single parents with little or no family or friends to assist them. They are lonely, did not plan their pregnancy, have little or no knowledge of child care and child development, and have unrealistic beliefs of child behavior.
