National Incidence Study of Child Abuse and ... - Children's Central

This reflects a 32% decrease in the rate of Harm Standard abuse per 1,000 children in thenation. Moreover, the incidence of all specific categories of abuse decreased: Theincidence of sexual abuse decreased significantly, while the declines in physical abuseand emotional abuse were both close-to-significant:• The estimated number of sexually abused children under the HarmStandard decreased from 217,700 in 1993 to 135,300 in 2005–2006 (a38% decrease in the number of sexually abused children and a 44%decrease in the rate of sexual abuse);• The number of children who experienced Harm Standard physicalabuse decreased from an estimated 381,700 at the time of the NIS–3 toan estimated 323,000 in the NIS–4 (a 15% decrease in number and a23% decline in the rate);• The estimated number of emotionally abused children under the HarmStandard was 204,500 at the time of the NIS–3, which decreased to148,500 during the NIS–4 (a 27% decrease in number; a 33% decline inthe rate).The incidence of Harm Standard neglect showed no statistically reliablechanges since the NIS–3, neither overall nor in any of the specific neglect categories(physical, emotional, and educational neglect).Classifying these abused and neglected children according to the level ofinjury or harm they suffered from Harm Standard maltreatment revealed only onechange: a significant decrease in the incidence of children for whom injury could beinferred due to the severe nature of their maltreatment. This group declined from165,300 children in the NIS–3 to 71,500 in the NIS–4 (a 57% decrease in number; a 60%decline in the rate in the population).Incidence of Endangerment Standard maltreatment. Definingmaltreatment according to the more inclusive Endangerment Standard provides a verydifferent picture of the incidence and distribution of child abuse and neglect. Nearly 3million children (an estimated 2,905,800) experienced Endangerment Standardmaltreatment during the NIS–4 2005–2006 study year. This corresponds to one child inevery 25 in the United States. While 29% (an estimated 835,000 children) were abused,more than three-fourths (77%, an estimated 2,251,600 children) were neglected. Mostabused children (57%, or 476,600 children) were physically abused, more than one-third6