NCJ Number
59177
Journal
MMWR (MORBIDITY AND MORTALITY WEEKLY REPORT) Volume: 28 Issue: 3 Dated: (JANUARY 26, 1979) Pages: 33-36
Date Published
1979
Length
4 pages
Annotation
THIS STUDY IS BASED ON REPORTS RECEIVED BY THE CHILD ABUSE REGISTRY IN GEORGIA AND REVIEWED BY LOCAL COUNTY CHILD PROTECTIVE WORKERS DURING THE PERIOD FROM 1975 TO 1977.
Abstract
OF 2,281 CASES REPORTED DURING THE STUDY PERIOD, 1,319 OR 58 PERCENT REPORTS WERE VERIFIED AS CASES OF PHYSICAL OR SEXUAL ABUSE. A CONFIRMED CASE WAS ONE IN WHICH A LOCAL COUNTY WORKER DETERMINED THAT SUFFICIENT EVIDENCE HAD BEEN OBTAINED TO CONFIRM ABUSE. CASES OF NEGLECT WERE NOT INCLUDED, AND NO ASSESSMENT OF THE COMPLETENESS OF REPORTING WAS MADE. ALMOST HALF OF THE REPORTS OF POSSIBLE ABUSE WERE MADE BY THREE SOURCES (MEDICAL CLINICS, SCHOOL OFFICIALS, AND CONCERNED CITIZENS). PRIVATE PHYSICIANS AND PUBLIC HEALTH OFFICIALS WERE NOT COMMON SOURCES OF REFERRAL. PERSONS WHO REPORTED A CASE THAT WAS SUBSEQUENTLY CONFIRMED WERE MOST LIKELY TO BE SCHOOL OFFICIALS, THE POLICE, AND JUVENILE COURTS. REPORTS MADE BY CITIZENS AND RELATIVES WERE THE LEAST LIKELY TO BE SUBSEQUENTLY CONFIRMED AS ACTUAL ABUSE CASES. ABOUT 20 PERCENT OF THE CHILDREN IN CONFIRMED CASES HAD A HISTORY OF BEING PREVIOUSLY ABUSED. COURT ACTION WAS TAKEN TO PROTECT CHILDREN IN 23 PERCENT OF ALL CASES. FOR ALL AGE GROUPS, CHILD ABUSE RATES IN URBAN AREAS WERE AT LEAST 1.3 TIMES HIGHER THAN RATES IN RURAL AREAS. CHILD ABUSE RATES WERE HIGHER FOR FEMALES THAN FOR MALES IN BOTH URBAN AND RURAL AREAS. BRUISES REPRESENTED THE MOST COMMONLY SUSTAINED INJURY, ALTHOUGH 22 PERCENT OF ALL CASES HAD MULTIPLE INJURIES. IN 14.3 PERCENT OF CONFIRMED CASES, CHILDREN WERE SEXUALLY ABUSED. TWENTY-SIX CHILDREN DIED FOLLOWING ABUSE, WITH THE DEATH-TO-CASE RATIO BEING 20 PER 1,000. IN 39 PERCENT PERCENT OF CONFIRMED CASES, BOTH NATURAL PARENTS WERE LIVING IN THE HOUSEHOLD. TO DETERMINE IF THE ABUSE OF YOUNGER CHILDREN WAS ASSOCIATED WITH OR PREDICTED BY EVENTS BEFORE OR AT THE TIME OR BIRTH, REPORTS OF CONFIRMED CASES INVOLVING CHILDREN LESS THAN 4 YEARS OF AGE WERE LINKED WITH THE CHILDREN'S BIRTH CERTIFICATES. THREE PERINATAL CHARACTERISTICS (MARITAL STATUS, COMPLICATIONS RELATED TO PREGNANCY AND DELIVERY, AND BIRTH WEIGHT) WERE EXAMINED, BUT THE ONLY SIGNIFICANT ASSOCIATION WITH SUBSEQUENT CHILD ABUSE WAS OUT-OF-WEDLOCK BIRTHS. THE MEAN AGE OF CHILD ABUSERS WAS 30 YEARS, AND 58 PERCENT WERE MALES. AN EDITORIAL NOTE ACCOMPANYING THE ARTICLE DISCUSSES THE ABILITY TO DRAW INFERENCES ABOUT DIFFERENCES IN CHILD ABUSE RATES IN RELATION TO THE COMPLETENESS OF REPORTING AND BIAS INTRODUCED BY REPORTING PRACTICES. SUPPORTING DATA AND REFERENCES ARE INCLUDED. (DEP)