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| Statistics |
 10,058
incidents of child abuse
were reported to SC
Department of Social
Services from 7/1/03 -
6/30/04. It is estimated
that the actual
incidents of child abuse
and neglect to be three
times
greater than the
reported number
(US Dept. of Health &
Human Services.) |
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There
are at least 210
reported cases of child
abuse and neglect in
South Carolina every
week. |
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One
to two children are
abandoned in South
Carolina each week. |
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In
2004, approximately 2
children were sexually
abused each and every
day throughout the year. |
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Of
the 10,058
incidents of
child abuse &
neglect, DSS
determined:
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35% suffered
physical abuse |
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9% were sexually
abused |
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61% were
physically
neglected |
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6% were
educationally
neglected |
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4% were
medically
neglected |
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8% of these
children
suffered more
than one type of
abuse |
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Between
3 and 4 South Carolina
children are abused
every hour: every day |
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2004
Kids Count Databook
ranks SC 46th in the
well-being of children -
SC's second worst rating
during the past decade.
(This data is based on
infant mortality rates,
births to teens, violent
teen deaths, child
deaths, idle teen and
single-parent families.)
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| What is child abuse and neglect? |
Child maltreatment includes physical abuse, child neglect and sexual abuse. Physical abuse is defined as
bodily injury to a child resulting in skin bruising, bleeding, burns, fracture of any bone, bleeding within the skull, soft
tissue swelling, failure to thrive, malnutrition, or death, when the injury is not otherwise justifiably explained. A
neglected child is one without proper prenatal care, and/or who lacks subsistence, education, medical or other care necessary for the child’s well being due to the conduct or omission of the parents, guardian or other custodian. Sexual abuse includes rape, molestation, incest, prostitution or pornographic activities or other similar form of sexual exploitation harming or threatening a child.
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| What causes child abuse and neglect? |
Child abuse and neglect are complex and multidimensional problems. Experts agree that they occur
as a result of multiple risk factors that interact and reinforce each other. The existence of any risk
factor in a child's life does not guarantee abuse of the child, just that the potential for abuse is greater. Child abuse
and neglect risk factors can be grouped into categories:
Child Abuse Risk Factors Characteristics of the Child
(This is not to suggest that the child is responsible for
his own abuse. Children with the following characteristics may be more challenging to care for, resulting in stress
and frustration for parents or caregivers who lack education or support for
parenting.)
- Child was born premature, with birth anomalies, at a low birth weight, or exposed to toxins in utero
- Child has a difficult or slow-to-warm-up temperament
- Child has a physical, cognitive or emotional disability
- Child has a chronic or serious illness,
- Child is less than 5 years old (children under 4 years of age account for over 75% of child abuse and neglect deaths)
- Childhood trauma Child is aggressive, has behavior problems or attention deficits
Characteristics of the Parents / Family
- Parent had insecure attachment with own parents
- Parent was abused as a child
- Lack of parenting knowledge
- Parent has unrealistic expectations about child development
- Family is socially or geographically isolated or lacks support
- Parent has a mental illness or disorder
- Parent has substance abuse issues
- Marital conflict
- Domestic violence
- Teen parenthood
- Parents have a generally high stress level
- Family has a heavy childcare responsibility due to several preschool aged children
- Parent has any of the following personality factors:
- external locus of control
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poor impulse control
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low tolerance for frustration
-
feelings of insecurity
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lack of trust
-
unmet emotional needs
Characteristics of the Environment
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Low socioeconomic status
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Stressful life events Lack of access to:
- medical care
-
health insurance
-
adequate child care
-
social services
-
emotional support
- Parental unemployment
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Homelessness
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Exposure to racism or discrimination
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Poor schools
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Exposure to environmental toxins
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Dangerous or violent neighborhood Community violence
This is not an all-inclusive or exhaustive list. The existence of these factors in a child's life does not mean the child will suffer from abuse, just that the potential for abuse or neglect is greater than if these factors did not exist in the child's life.
Source: National Clearinghouse on Child Abuse and Neglect Information
http://nccanch.acf.hhs.gov/index.cfm
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| What strenghtens families and protects children from child abuse and neglect? |
See Protective Factors for
Promoting Healthy Families.
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