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Citation
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Simon TR, Shattuck A, Kacha-Ochana A, David-Ferdon CF, Hamby SL, Henly M, Merrick MT, Turner HA, Finkelhor D. Am. J. Prev. Med. 2018; 54(1): 129-132. |
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Affiliation
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Crimes Against Children Research Center, Department of Sociology, University of New Hampshire, Durham, New Hampshire. |
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Abstract
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INTRODUCTION: Official data sources do not provide researchers, practitioners, and policy makers with complete information on physical injury from child abuse. This analysis provides a national estimate of the percentage of children who were injured during their most recent incident of physical abuse.
METHODS: Pooled data from three cross-sectional national telephone survey samples (N=13,052 children) included in the National Survey of Children's Exposure to Violence completed in 2008, 2011, and 2014 were used.
RESULTS: Analyses completed in 2016 indicate that 8.4% of children experienced physical abuse by a caregiver. Among those with injury data, 42.6% were injured in the most recent incident. No differences in injury were observed by sex, age, race/ethnicity, or disability status. Victims living with two parents were less likely to be injured (27.1%) than those living in other family structures (53.8%-59%, p<0.001). Incidents involving an object were more likely to result in injury (59.3% vs 38.5%, p<0.05). Injured victims were significantly more likely to experience substantial fear (57.3%) than other victims (34.4%, p<0.001).
CONCLUSIONS: A substantial percentage of physical abuse victims are physically hurt to the point that they still feel pain the next day, are bruised, cut, or have a broken bone. Self-report data indicate this is a more common problem than official data sources suggest. The lack of an object in an incident of physical abuse does not protect a child from injury. The results underscore the impact of childhood physical abuse and the importance of early prevention activities.
Published by Elsevier Inc.
Language: en |