Surveys consistently show that large proportions of cases of suspected child maltreatment remain unreported. The probably that child abuse and neglect is a leading cause of childhood deaths seems to be generally accepted. The National Child Abuse and Neglect Data Systems reported that in 1997 there were an estimated 1,196 child fatalities related to child abuse and neglect. During a five-year period from 1990 to 1994, public child protective services reported that 5,400 children died as a result of child abuse or neglect. In its 1995 report on fatal child abuse, the U. S. Advisory Board on Child Abuse and Neglect reported that a more realistic estimate is about 2,000 annual deaths.
Research supports that very young children are the most frequent victims of child fatalities.
For instance, a child whose death is officially recorded as pneumonia may, in fact, have contracted the illness as a result of being poorly clothed, fed, bedded or medically neglected. Thus, many child abuse experts feel that abuse or neglect may well be the underlying cause in many cases where the cause is medically described. However, many child prostitutes and youngsters involved in alcohol and drug abuse are victims of physical or sexual abuse and neglect at home. Thus, adolescents may have more options than younger children, but they are not necessarily positive options. Adolescent abuse remains a serious problem that deserves attention and action.