Just How Common Is Child Abuse In 2021?

Child abuse is a serious issue around the globe. In fact, violence against children or maltreatment of persons below the age of 18 can happen virtually anywhere and affects at least 1.7 billion children, according to World Vision. Let’s take a look at how common child abuse is in 2021.

Just How Common Is Child Abuse In 2021?

Four different types of child abuse and their prevalence in America

Physical abuse

According to the Children's Bureau report, over 651,000 children were victims of abuse or maltreatment in 2019, decreasing by over 21,000 from the previous year. Among these, 17.5% of the victims suffered physical abuse, with child battery being the most common form of physical abuse.

The most common form of battery happens when a parent or a caregiver strikes a child out of anger or as a form of punishment and is punishable by law. If you are facing charges for hitting a minor, it would be best to work with an attorney who is well versed in child abuse laws.

Sexual abuse

Of the 651,000 child abuse victims cited in the Children's Bureau report, 9.3% were victims of sexual assault. Sadly, a substantial percentage of sexual abuse cases go unreported because most perpetrators are closely related to the victims. Depending on the nature of the sexual offense, perpetrators can face lengthy prison sentences and may be required to register as sex offenders with the federal sex offenders registry.

Neglect

The most prevalent form of child abuse in America is neglect. According to the Children's Defense Fund, 74.9% of all forms of child abuse incidences are related to neglect.

Child neglect is often associated with poverty and can be prevented by addressing this issue first. Upon a conviction with child neglect, the offender will be guilty of a misdemeanor and can face days up to a year in prison, a fine, or both.

Psychological abuse

Child psychological abuse is thought to be the most prevalent and the most underreported form of child maltreatment. This is because it involves non-physical interactions.

Parental or caregivers' psychological abuse perpetrated on children mainly includes ridicule or humiliation, threats of violence, isolation, and denying emotional responsiveness.

Child abuse prevalence by demographics

According to the report by the Children Bureau, younger children are more vulnerable to abuse. In fact, children under one year are at a rate of 25.7 per 1000 children, which is more than double the national average of 9.2 per 1000 children.

The rate of child maltreatment or abuse varies significantly between states. In other words, some states record rates as low as 1.8 per 1000 while others recorded rates of up to 20.1 per 1000 children. The report cites that boys and girls face an almost similar rate of maltreatment with an average rate of 8.4 and 9.4 per 1000 children, respectively.

There are notable variations in the rate of abuse or maltreatment when differentiated by race. According to the Children Bureau Report, the rates of child abuse among Whites, Hispanics, African Americans, and Native American children were 7.8, 8.1, 13.7, and 14.8 per 1000 children, respectively.

Putting it all together

Child abuse is a serious offense that should never go unreported. Many child abuse cases go unreported because the perpetrators are usually people close to the victims, such as parents, caregivers, or other household members. If you witness a case of child abuse, do the right thing by reporting it to child protection services. On the other hand, if you are facing child abuse charges, be sure to consult an attorney to understand your legal options and rights.