Death from child abuse and neglect

Abstract

Children are dying from abuse and neglect in all countries in the world; however data indicating its prevalence is unavailable. The best incidence data come from countries such as the US New Zealand and Australia where multi-disciplinary death-review teams analyze the causes of child deaths. The reliability of these data varies with definitions diligence and data organization. According to available data 41 states in the US reported 967 fatalities from child abuse and neglect which were extrapolated to a national estimate of 1.7 per 100000 deaths in 1997. This figure was 1.14 in a 1996 study in the Netherlands. In New South Wales Australia 15 (2.9%) of 759 deaths in children 1-17 years old were reported as due to homicide or non-accidental injury during 1988-99. During 1990-93 Paris France reported 81 cases of homicide from an analysis of necropsy and epidemiological records of children from birth to 14 years of age. Other countries with data on deaths from child abuse and neglect include the Czech Republic Japan and Mexico. There is continued need for professional education in the recognition and reporting of child abuse and neglect among mandated reporters.