Healthy families America - child abuse must be prevented
Healthy families America - child abuse must be prevented Children Today, March-April, 1992 by Anne Cohn Donnelly
Child abuse is a public health crisis in the United States. Its prevalence and annual incidence in the population have reached epidemic proportions. Child abuse is also a multifaceted phenomenon: By definition it encompasses physical abuse, sexual abuse, neglect, and emotional maltreatment, each of which has a somewhat different set of underlying causes. These diverse types of abuse are by no means mutually exclusive, nor are they found only in certain population groups. While one type of abuse may predominate in a given population group, incidents involving different types of abuse cut across all groups.
Child abuse hurts. The after effects, which are well documented, are devastating. Abused children suffer a wide range of emotional, developmental and physical problems, both acute and chronic. Some children die. These problems often precipitate such social ills as teenage runaways, adolescent prostitution, drug and alcohol abuse, academic failure and school truancy, and juvenile delinquency.
Child abuse is costly, both in terms of human suffering, and in terms of the financial costs that must be borne by society to remedy the social and psychological maladies emanating from child maltreatment. The case for working to prevent child abuse before it occurs is clear. Prevention spares the hurt and can save lives and money.
Child abuse is a public health crisis in the United States. Its prevalence and annual incidence in the population have reached epidemic proportions. Child abuse is also a multifaceted phenomenon: By definition it encompasses physical abuse, sexual abuse, neglect, and emotional maltreatment, each of which has a somewhat different set of underlying causes. These diverse types of abuse are by no means mutually exclusive, nor are they found only in certain population groups. While one type of abuse may predominate in a given population group, incidents involving different types of abuse cut across all groups.
Child abuse hurts. The after effects, which are well documented, are devastating. Abused children suffer a wide range of emotional, developmental and physical problems, both acute and chronic. Some children die. These problems often precipitate such social ills as teenage runaways, adolescent prostitution, drug and alcohol abuse, academic failure and school truancy, and juvenile delinquency.
Child abuse is costly, both in terms of human suffering, and in terms of the financial costs that must be borne by society to remedy the social and psychological maladies emanating from child maltreatment. The case for working to prevent child abuse before it occurs is clear. Prevention spares the hurt and can save lives and money.

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