Child abuse and neglect can take a variety of forms including physical abuse, neglect, sexual abuse, and emotional abuse. The rate of fatal child abuse has been on the rise nationally since 1985. Since 1989, Missouri has also documented a dramatic rise in the number of confirmed child fatalities from abuse and neglect. The recent creation of Child Fatality Review Teams in each Missouri county has resulted in a more thorough collection of data about this tragic problem. Neglect accounts for the largest percentage of child abuse in Missouri, with over 10,000 incidents substantiated in 1993.
Child neglect can also have fatal consequences.
Malnutrition, injuries due to inadequate supervision, and medical neglect are potentially life-threatening. Currently, Missouri statistics on fatal child abuse and neglect do not specify the type of maltreatment that caused the death. Sexual Abuse Sexual abuse has received increased attention in recent years, leading to a surge in sexual abuse reports throughout the United States and Missouri. The actual incidence of child sexual abuse in the United States and in Missouri is unknown. Sexual abuse tends to happen in secret, without any witnesses to corroborate the claims of the victim.