They account for not only injuries, burns and other accidents in children, but also for brain damage, emotional scars and even deaths. There are also children who are victims of sexual abuse, incest and rape. The inherently intimate aspect and difficulties in identifying and reporting instances of abuse and neglect have led to widely varying estimates of their extent. Estimates of the actual number of cases of child abuse are generally acknowledged to be greatly under-reported.
Child neglect is probably more common than direct physical abuse.
Stress can contribute to the instability and poverty may contribute to stress. Alcohol is implicated in many cases. Physically or mentally handicapped children can be targets of abuse by parents frustrated by the handicap. A substantiated report involves further DYFS investigation. Data for Bergen County and the state includes all reports whether or not they are substantiated.