Those sexually abused included more than 1,200 children. There were 296 reports of child abandonment. Fifty percent of the victims were male and 50 percent were female. The number of deaths from child abuse has remained relatively low over time, but even a few cases are tragic. In 1996, there were seven deaths attributed to child abuse, up from five in 1995.
Child abuse is typically a crime among families.
Other relatives were the perpetrators in 9 percent of cases and non-caregivers were perpetrators in 11 percent of the cases in 1996. Child abuse can be prevented with intervention, education, and child protective services. Data from 1996 confirm 1995 data showing a dramatic increase in the child abuse rate since the early 1990s. The emerging trend of elevated reports of child abuse is cause for continuing concern.