Based on reports received and investigated by CPS, about 13.9 children per 1,000 younger than 18 in the general population were victims of abuse or neglect. In comparison, the NIS-3 estimated that 42 children per 1,000 in the population were harmed or endangered by maltreatment. Previously, the rate of maltreatment had been on the increase between 1990 and 1996, with an overall increase for that period of 18 percent. In particular, the estimated number of seriously injured children quadrupled from 141,700 in 1986 to 565,000 in 1993. Neglect is the most common form of child maltreatment.
Many children suffer more than one type of maltreatment.
Child abuse and neglect affects children of all ages. Among children confirmed as victims by CPS agencies in 1997, more than half were 7 years old or younger, and one-quarter were younger than 4 years old. A greater proportion of neglect and medical neglect victims were children younger than 8, while a greater proportion of physical, sexual, and emotional abuse victims were children age 8 or older. In 1997, approximately 52 percent of victims of maltreatment were female, and 47 percent were male. Available data suggest that some differences exist in the types of maltreatment experienced by male and female children.