NATION IN BRIEF : NATIONWIDE : Physical Abuse of Children Rose in ’89

Reported incidents of abuse and neglect of children rose 9% last year, according to survey results from the National Committee for Prevention of Child Abuse in Washington, D.C. The survey found that in 1989, child welfare agencies in the states received 2.4 million reports of abuse and neglect, and at least 1,237 abuse-related deaths. Ann Cohn, executive director of the committee, acknowledged, however, that new definitions of abuse and reporting systems accounted for part of the increase. The report also concluded, from a recent nationwide telephone survey, that the number of parents who insult, swear at or spank their children is declining.