Violent death and injury in US children and adolescents

Article Abstract:

Intentional injuries and acts of violence include assault, homicide, child abuse and neglect, and are significant contributors to childhood morbidity and mortality. Homicide is divided into two categories; infantile (child abuse) and adolescent (peer assault). Child abuse and neglect include maltreatment by responsible adults. Assaults are injuries inflicted by adults, strangers, or peers who are not responsible for the victim. FBI data, based on police records, indicated that 2,227 children and adolescents were the victims of homicide in 1985. Sixty percent of the victims were between 15 and 19 years, and 23 percent were under 5 years of age. The National Center for Health Statistics (NCHS), which uses death certificates, listed a total of 2,372 child and adolescent homicides in 1985, of which 1,654 were male and 718 female. Although blacks are disproportionately affected by homicide, the majority of child and adolescent homicide victims are white. Black homicide rates are higher those of whites, but total numbers are higher for whites than for blacks. Interview data from the National Youth Survey/Sexual Abuse Project revealed that 5 to 7 percent of female adolescents between 12 and 18 years (700,000 to 1 million girls) experience at least one sexual assault annually. The assault was by verbal force, minimal physical force, beatings or in the presence of a weapon. Offenders were usually known to the victims, may have been delinquent, and were often drunk. For each category of violence, primary prevention to reduce the incidence of the injury is aimed at whole communities and populations, and secondary prevention is aimed at reducing the effect and recurrence of the injury. In the case of fatal injuries, only primary prevention can have any beneficial impact. Extensive tabular data is presented, identifying prevention modalities and research needs. (Consumer Summary produced by Reliance Medical Information, Inc.)

Statistics, Demographic aspects, Youth, Juvenile homicide

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Child abuse and neglect: critical first steps in response to a national emergency. The report of the US Advisory Board on Child Abuse and Neglect

Article Abstract:

The US Advisory Board on Child Abuse and Neglect (USABCAN) gave its first report to the Secretary of Health and Human Services and Congress in June 1990. USABCAN was created under provisions of public law 100-294 and the 1988 Amendments to the Child Abuse Prevention and Treatment Act. The board's mission was to evaluate the child protection system (CPS) and to make recommendations for improving services provided by the CPS. The board arrived at several conclusions: (1) the CPS is unable to cope with the national emergency created by child abuse and neglect; (2) hundreds of thousands of children are beaten, raped, burned, starved, sodomized, abandoned, and otherwise abused, annually; and, (3) billions of dollars are expended annually in the US on programs dealing with the results of this abuse. The USABCAN recommended 31 steps that would provide a framework for reviewing the system, and outlined policies for restructuring the CPS. The 31 steps would control the emergency, while policies aimed at prevention and new protection programs would follow. The steps are grouped into the following eight areas, each containing other suggestions: recognizing the national emergency; providing leadership; coordinating efforts; generating knowledge; diffusing knowledge; increasing human resources; providing and improving programs; and planning for the future. Among these proposals are actions that can be taken by the pediatric community, which can provide leadership and training for new professionals, assume the responsibility for prevention, and initiate a 'get help' program to be used before abuse occurs. (Consumer Summary produced by Reliance Medical Information, Inc.)

Reports, United States. Advisory Board on Child Abuse and Neglect

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Age-related patterns of violent death, Cook County, Illinois, 1977 through 1982

Article Abstract:

To be able to guide efforts to prevent violent deaths among children, it is helpful to understand specific patterns of death that have developed over the years. The high number of violent child deaths in Cooks County, Illinois makes it a good place to obtain information on the patterns of child homicides. The death records of 437 children under age 15 were examined. Homicides and questionable deaths were included. The deaths of children over one year of age occurred mostly among males and blacks. Children under age five were assaulted, primarily by parents. Younger children generally died from beatings, while older children died from gunshot wounds. The death rates were highest in the youngest and oldest age groups. The mortality for one- and two-year-olds was 19.77 per 100,000 and 6.53 per 100,000 for three- and four-year-olds. Several patterns emerged. Violent childhood deaths were closely related to specific stages of child development. In addition, the pattern of death may be seasonal; younger children are beaten more often in winter, and gunshot wounds of older children occur more often in summer. Different ages were at risk in different geographical locations. It is concluded that better prevention strategies are needed for both black children under age three and children older than 11 years. The patterns of age-related deaths should be considered when developing prevention strategies. More research is needed to study the different patterns related to various communities. (Consumer Summary produced by Reliance Medical Information, Inc.)

Research, Patient outcomes, Mortality, Children, Crime, Illinois, Child welfare, Cook County, Illinois, Violent deaths

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