Lifetime Prevalence of Investigating Child Maltreatment Among US Children

Abstract

Objectives: To estimate the lifetime prevalence of official investigations for child maltreatment among children in the United States.

Methods: We used the National Child Abuse and Neglect Data System Child Files (2003-2014) and Census data to develop synthetic cohort life tables to estimate the cumulative prevalence of reported childhood maltreatment. We extend previous work, which explored only confirmed rates of maltreatment, and we add new estimations of maltreatment by subtype, age, and ethnicity.

Results: We estimate that 37.4% of all children experience a child protective services investigation by age 18 years. Consistent with previous literature, we found a higher rate for African American children (53.0%) and the lowest rate for Asians/Pacific Islanders (10.2%).

Conclusions: Child maltreatment investigations are more common than is generally recognized when viewed across the lifespan. Building on other recent work, our data suggest a critical need for increased preventative and treatment resources in the area of child maltreatment.

FIGURE 1—

Cumulative Risk of Maltreatment That Was (a) Investigated and (b) Substantiated: United States, 2014 Source. All maltreatment data are from the 2003–2014 National Child Abuse and Neglect Data System Child Files, and all population data are based on “bridged-race population estimates 1990–2014” data requested from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention WONDER online database, which draws from US Census data.

FIGURE 2—

Lifetime Prevalence by Race/Ethnicity of Maltreatment That Was (a) Investigated and (b) Substantiated: United States, 2014 Source. All maltreatment data are from the 2003–2014 National Child Abuse and Neglect Data System Child Files, and all population data are based on “bridged-race population estimates 1990–2014” data requested from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention WONDER online database, which draws from US Census data.

FIGURE 3—

Lifetime Prevalence by Gender of Maltreatment That Was (a) Investigated and (b) Substantiated: United States, 2014 Source. All maltreatment data are from the 2003–2014 National Child Abuse and Neglect Data System Child Files, and all population data are based on “bridged-race population estimates 1990–2014” data requested from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention WONDER online database, which draws from US Census data.