Injury Topics

Child Maltreatment

Definition: Child maltreatment includes the physical, sexual, emotional abuse or neglect of a child or adolescent by an adult.

Magnitude of the Problem: In 2005 there were close to 900,000 substantiated cases of abuse and neglect in the U.S. Child maltreatment costs the country close to $104 billion each year. It is associated with a number of short- and long-term health problems and injuries, such as broken bones; developmental delays; depression; alcohol abuse; heart and liver disease; cancer; severe obesity; and elevated risk of becoming an abuser.

Prevention: While providing services to children who have been abused or neglected is essential, the public health approach to child maltreatment relies on a primary prevention focus, examining and addressing risk factors associated with abuse and creating programs that support and promote healthy and safe relationships, such as home visiting programs for new parents.