National Child Abuse Statistics | Childhelp

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Child Abuse in America

Children are suffering from a hidden epidemic of child
General Statistics Join us in the campaign against child abuse.
abuse and neglect. Over 3 million reports of child abuse are
made every year in the United States; however, those Child Abuse Consequences
reports can include multiple children. In 2007,
Child Abuse & Criminal Behavior
approximately 5.8 million children were involved in an
estimated 3.2 million child abuse reports and allegations. Child Abuse & Substance Abuse

Sources
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  children and families who
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A report of child abuse is made every   abuse.
ten seconds.
 
Almost five children die everyday as a
result of child abuse. More than three out of
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four are under the age of 4.
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It is estimated that between 60-85% of child   will directly provide
fatalities due to maltreatment are not help for children and
recorded as such on death certificates.   families in need.

90% of child sexual abuse victims know the

perpetrator in some way; 68% are abused by
family members.

Child abuse occurs at every socioeconomic

level, across ethnic and cultural lines, within
all religions and at all levels of education.

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National Child Abuse Statistics | Childhelp

31% percent of women in prison in the

United States were abused as children.

Over 60% of people in drug

Abused children are 25% more likely to
rehabilitation centers report being
experience teen pregnancy
abused or neglected as a child.
Abused teens are 3 times less likely to
About 30% of abused and neglected children
practice safe sex, putting them at greater risk
will later abuse their own children,
for STDs
continuing the horrible cycle of abuse.
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About 80% of 21 year old that were abused as
children met criteria for at least one
psychological disorder.

The estimated annual cost of child abuse and

neglect in the United States for 2007 is $104 Children who have been sexually abused are
billion. 2.5 times more likely to abuse alcohol 

Abused children are 25% more likely to Children who have been sexually abused are
experience teen pregnancy. 3.8 times more likely develop drug
addictions
Abused teens are 3 times less likely to
practice safe sex, putting them at greater risk Nearly two-thirds of the people in
for STDs. treatment for drug abuse reported being
abused as children
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14% of all men in prison in the USA were

abused as children

36% of all women in prison were abused as

children

Children who experience child abuse &

neglect are 59% more likely to be arrested as
a juvenile, 28% more likely to be arrested as
an adult, and 30% more likely to commit
violent crime.

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For more information and statistics, click here. 

  
Sources

Centers of Disease Control and Prevention and The Federal Administration for Children and Families. The CDC oublication:
http://www.cdc.gov/mmwr

Prevent Child Abuse America: Current Trends in Child Abuse Reporting & Fatalities: The 2000 Fifty State Survery

National Center on Child Abuse Prevention Research: Prevent Child Abuse America; Current Trends in Child Abuse Reporting
and Fatalities: The Results of the 1997 Annual Fifty State Survey

Lung, C. & Daro D. (1996) Current Trends in Child Abuse Reporting and Fatalities: The Results of the 1995 Annual Fifty State
Survey. Chicago: National Committee to Prevent Child Abuse. http://www.childabuse.com/fs9.htm

US Department of Health & Human Services Administration for Children & Families. Child Maltreatment 2003: Summary of
Key Findings

National Clearinghouse on Child Abuse & Neglect Information. Long term Consequences of Child Abuse & Neglect 2005

US Department of Justice

Child Abuse & Neglect Study by Arthur Becker - Weidman PhD

National Institute on Drug Abuse 2000 Report

DePanfilis, D. (2006). Child neglect: A guide for prevention, assessment and intervention. Dept.HHS, et al

Long - Term Consequences of Child Abuse and Neglect. Child Welfare Information Gateway.Washington, D.C.: U.S. Department
of Health and Human Services, 2006. Retrieved August 22, 2007 from
http://www.childwelfare.gov/pubs/factsheets/long_term_consequences.cfm

Wang, Chung - Tung Ph.D. & Holton, John Ph.D. (2007). Total Estimated Cost of Child Abuse and Neglect In the United States.

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National Child Abuse Statistics | Childhelp

Prevent Child Abuse America funded byThe Pew Charitable Trusts

U.S. Department of Health & Human Services, Administration on Children Youth & Families. Child Maltreatment 2007
(Washington, DC: U.S. Government Printing Office, 2009). Retrieved April 3 2009 from http://www.acf.hhs.gov/programs/cb

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