9781422275412

CHILD ABUSE

CHILD ABUSE Research shows the youngest children are the most vulnerable to maltreatment. All states reported that most victims were younger than three years. The victimization rate was highest for children younger than one year of age.

Psychological abuse 1.3%

Sexual abuse 1.2%

Medical neglect 5.7%

Other 15.0%

Neglect 74.6%

• Abused children are 25% more

Physical abuse 44.2%

likely to experience teen pregnancy.

• The financial cost of child abuse and neglect in the United States is estimated at $585 billion . • Abused teens are more likely to engage in sexual risk-taking behaviors, putting them at greater risk for STDs.

Source: Child Welfare Information Gateway.

• About 30% of abused and neglected children will later abuse their own children, continuing the horrible cycle of abuse. Source: American SPCC. DID YOU KNOW? • One child in every seven will be born into poverty in the United States.

• More than 13 million children in the United States live in “food insecure” homes. Source: NCCP.

• One out of six children—roughly 100 million—in developing countries is underweight. Source: Food Aid Foundation . • World Food Program (WFP) calculates that US$3.2 billion is needed per year to reach all 66 million hungry school-age children.

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