Children are suffering from a hidden epidemic of child abuse and neglect - Essay Example

Running head: HIDDEN EPIDEMIC OF CHILD ABUSE Children are suffering from a Hidden Epidemic of Child Abuse and Neglect NumberCourse Name and Number Name of Professor Date of Submission Number of Words: 386 In 2009, the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services reported that majority with 33.4% of the child abuse and neglect victims are between the age brackets of less than 1 to 3 years old followed by 4 to 7 years old (23.3%), 8 to 11 years old (18.8%), 12 to 15 years old (17.8%), 16 to 17 years old (6.3%), and unknown (0.4%) (Gaudiosi, 2009, p. 22). Based on statistics of victims by age, it is clear that young individuals who are incapable of protecting themselves from other people are often the victim of child abuse and neglect.

Because of the adverse health, emotional and psychological impact of child abuse and neglect over each child’s developmental growth, there is a strong need to educate the people about ways on how to protect the infants and children below the age of 7 years old from becoming one of the victims of child abuse and neglect. (See Figure I – Estimated Victims by Age below) Figure I – Estimated Victims by Age Source: Gaudiosi (2009) The U.S. Department of Health and Human Services reported that majority with 78.

3% of the victims are child neglect cases followed by physical abuse (17.8%), others (9.6%), sexual abuse (9.5%), psychological maltreatmetn (7.6%), medical neglect (2.4%), and unknown (0.3) (Gaudiosi, 2009, p. 23). Having this statistical information with regards to the type of child abuse is useful in terms of educating the community members with regards to the common and least common types of child abuse and neglect. With the purpose of protecting the welfare of these children, educating the people about the common types of child abuse could help each individual be able to identify and immediately report child abuse and neglect cases to the authorities.

(See Figure II – Types of Child Abuse below) Figure II – Types of Child Abuse Source: Gaudiosi (2009, p. 23) With regards to race and ethnicity, the White Americans with 44% are often the victims of child abuse and neglect followed by the African-American (22.3%), Hispanic (20.7%), unknown (7.5%), multiple race (3.2%), American Indian or Alaska Native (1.1%), Asian (0.9%), and the Pacific Islander (0.2%) (Gaudiosi, 2009, p. 23). Using this statistical information, social care workers would have an idea which among the races and ethnicity are prone to child abuse and neglect.

This will make them easily develop useful social care intervention to combat child abuse and neglect. (See Figure III – Victims of Race and Ethnicity below) Figure III – Victims of Race and Ethnicity Source: Gaudiosi (2009, p. 23) *** End *** References Gaudiosi, J. (2009). US Department of Health & Human Services. Retrieved January 24, 2011, from Child Maltreatment 2009: http://www.acf.hhs.gov/programs/cb/pubs/cm09/cm09.pdf