Fourth National Incidence Study of Child Abuse and Neglect (NIS–4)

Specific Categories of Harm Standard AbuseBlack children had a significantly higher rate of physical abuse than childrenin the other groups. An estimated 6.6 per 1,000 Black children experienced HarmStandard physical abuse, which is more than 2 times the rate for White children (3.2 per1,000). The rate of physical abuse for Black children is also 1.5 times that of theHispanic children (4.4 per 1,000).The difference between Black and White children in their rates of sexualabuse is statistically marginal. An estimated 2.6 per 1,000 Black children were sexuallyabused according to the Harm Standard, which is nearly 2 times the rate of 1.4 per 1,000White children.Severity of Outcomes from Harm Standard MaltreatmentWhite and Black children differed significantly in their risk of sufferingserious harm from Harm Standard maltreatment. The incidence of children seriouslyharmed by Harm Standard maltreatment was 8.8 per 1,000 Black children compared to4.6 per 1,000 White children. Black children also had a significantly higher rate ofexperiencing serious harm than Hispanic children, whose rate was 5.2 per 1,000.The rates of moderate harm differed significantly for White and Blackchildren, with 13.7 per 1,000 Black children versus 7.2 per 1,000 White childrensuffering this level of outcome from Harm Standard maltreatment.Inferred harm occurred at different rates for White and Black children; thisdifference is statistically marginal. The incidence rate of inferred harm was 1.5 per 1,000Black children compared to 0.7 per 1,000 White children.4-24