The estimated incidence rate for sexual abuse was 3.2 per 1,000.
Child neglect can be chronic, and threaten the growth and the development of the child .
The Social Welfare Establishment has attempted to maintain the view that child abuse is mental health problem largely unrelated to social class, but nothing could be further from the truth. Many if not most emotionally, sexually and physically abused children are found within the larger pool of neglected children and most of these are in dire economic straights. In fact, child abuse is highly responsive to economic factors, but recognition of that simple and undeniable fact appears to have political implications we remain unwilling to face. The Study's authors are quick to point out that this is NOT merely a matter of changed reporting patterns. It represents an actual increase in the number of neglected children.