The Nation : Child Abuse Deaths Found Increasing

Children are dying from parental abuse and neglect in far greater numbers than national welfare statistics suggest, a report said. The study by the National Committee for Prevention of Child Abuse, presented during a convention in Philadelphia by the National Assn. of Social Workers, said the number of reported child abuse and neglect deaths increased to 1,132 from 899 between 1985 and 1987. New York led the nation in child abuse and neglect fatalities during fiscal year 1986 with 181 reported deaths. Texas was second with 129 deaths. However, after surveying welfare departments from all 50 states, researchers have concluded that thousands of child abuse deaths nationwide each year have been “misclassified” as accident, disease or suicide. The report said also that about 500 of the 10,000 deaths attributed last year to sudden infant death syndrome could have been listed as abuse or neglect deaths.