NCJ Number
217308
Journal
Child Maltreatment Volume: 12 Issue: 1 Dated: February 2007 Pages: 96-105
Date Published
February 2007
Length
10 pages
Annotation
This study estimated the number of children at risk for various subtypes of physical neglect, using an anonymous telephone survey of 1,435 mothers of children ages 0 to 17 in North and South Carolina.
Abstract
The findings indicate that within any given month, approximately 6 in 1,000 children are at risk for neglect due to inadequate food/nutrition and due to inadequate supervision that increases their risk of injury; 2 in 1,000 children younger than 6 years old are at risk of neglect due to being left home alone for an extended period. During a given year, approximately 8 percent of children are unable to access medical care at least once when it is needed. Apparently, the survey identified more children at risk for neglect than were substantiated by child protective services. Little overlap was found in subtypes of neglect (inadequate food, supervision, and medical care). This suggests that these subtypes of neglect involve different factors, such that each subtype should be researched separately. Future research should also address the role that policymakers and prevention specialists could have in addressing the needs of this population before there is serious risk or harm. A total of 712 telephone interviews were completed statewide in North Carolina and 723 in South Carolina. This was a 52-percent response rate for the eligible households. To be eligible, a household had to be located in the Carolinas and have a child younger than 18 years old. The analysis of physical neglect included the following categories: provision of food, parental supervision, and access to medical care. 4 tables and 30 references