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

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

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

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physically assaulted or sexually abused by persons in any <strong>of</strong> these latter categories. Theyalso exclude children who are not living in households.It is also important to note that the estimates in this report reflect theunduplicated numbers <strong>of</strong> children in the U.S. who experienced the maltreatment inquestion. That is, the unit <strong>of</strong> measurement is the child, <strong>and</strong> each estimate counts a childonly once. The report provides both the estimated totals <strong>and</strong> the estimated rates per 1,000children. Estimated totals are annual estimates, reflecting the number <strong>of</strong> childrennationwide who were maltreated in the course <strong>of</strong> the study year. The incidence ratesindicate the numbers <strong>of</strong> children maltreated during the study year per 1,000 children inthe U.S. population. This report also follows the usage <strong>of</strong> the Congressional m<strong>and</strong>ate inreferring to the estimates as "incidence estimates." In the epidemiological literature,however, they would be more appropriately termed "annual prevalence estimates."Technically, they are period prevalence estimates, where the focal period is a year. 243.1<strong>National</strong> <strong>Incidence</strong> <strong>of</strong> Harm St<strong>and</strong>ard MaltreatmentThis section presents the national estimates <strong>of</strong> the incidence <strong>of</strong> children whoexperienced Harm St<strong>and</strong>ard maltreatment during the NIS–4 2005–2006 study year. TheHarm St<strong>and</strong>ard is relatively stringent in that, in general, it classifies a child as“countable” (i.e., counts the child in the study estimates) only if he or she has alreadyexperienced demonstrable harm as a result <strong>of</strong> maltreatment.24 In epidemiologic usage, "incidence" refers to the number <strong>of</strong> new cases that occur in the population duringa given period <strong>of</strong> time (Ahlbom & Norell, 1984). "Prevalence" can mean a number <strong>of</strong> different things,depending on whether it is used with or without a modifying adjective. When used without a qualifier, itis most <strong>of</strong>ten interpreted to mean "point prevalence," which is the total number <strong>of</strong> cases that exist in thepopulation at a given point in time. Prevalence can also be defined as "lifetime prevalence," which refersto the total number <strong>of</strong> persons known to have been cases at some time in their lives, or "periodprevalence," which denotes the total number <strong>of</strong> persons known to have been cases at any time during aspecified period.3–2

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