Rates of physical and sexual child abuse appear to have declined; child neglect shows no decline

Rates of physical and sexual child abuse appear to have declined; child neglect shows no decline

Rates of physical and sexual abuse of children have declined over the last 20 years, but for reasons not fully understood, says a new report from the Institute of Medicine. Yet, reports of psychological and emotional child abuse have risen in the same period, and data vary significantly as to whether child neglect is increasing, decreasing, or remaining constant. However, determining the incidence of child abuse and neglect presents a number of challenges, because cases could be underreported and definitions vary among entities that collect such information. To prevent and treat the problem more effectively, the causes and consequences of child abuse and neglect need to be understood with greater specificity, the report says. It calls for a national strategic plan to advance research on child abuse and neglect as well as a national surveillance system to improve the accuracy of cases identified. The report updates the 1993 National Research Council report Understanding Child Abuse and Neglect.