Research has found evidence to support a connection between child abuse and range of social problems. Here are some statistics for you to begin processing:

• More than 40% of women in prisons in the United States have been victims of sexual and other types of abuse. Of those, more than 30% reported being sexually abused before they were 18 years old.
• Roughly 80% of children abused were abused by their parent or caregiver
• 7 out of 10 women attending drug and alcohol treatment services have histories of childhood sexual abuse.
• More than 65% of men attending drug and alcohol treatment services have histories of physical abuse in childhood.
• There is a strong link between experiences of childhood abuse and higher rates of some mental health problems in later life, such as depression, anxiety and post traumatic stress.

In a 2001 study, the daily cost of child abuse and neglect in United States was estimated to be $258 million. Do you want to see a number that will leave you speechless? Multiply $258 million by 365. That’s $94 BILLION…that’s how big of a problem child abuse is. Now I am going to just blow you away with more cost data. A follow-up study was done in 2007 that reports the yearly costs have grown to, are you ready, a conservative $103.8 Billion! That’s roughly a $30 Million per day increase in just six years, or a $5 million increase per day over the last six years.

Have a look at the chart from the 2001 study. It gives a cost breakdown of where the money is being spent. Keep in mind that these are daily numbers.

As a society, we have not always linked these social problems with child abuse. The obvious question is why not?

As a society, we all bear the social and financial costs and repercussions of these problems. Each year, our national, state, county and city governments spend more on mental health services, more on drug and alcohol services, more on law and more on order.

The long term consequences of child abuse not only affect the individual being abused, they affect our society as a whole. Adults and adolescents with a history of childhood abuse, neglect, or domestic violence exposure, demonstrate nearly twice the number of serious health problems as children without these experiences. Documented medical problems associated with childhood maltreatment include: chronic fatigue; altered thyroid function; altered immune function; eating disorders and obesity; asthma; hypertension, and peptic ulcer disease. Child maltreatment and associated morbidities independently predict child and familial dysfunction across physical, developmental, emotional, behavioral, cognitive, and social domains. Thus, maltreatment—both directly and indirectly—has a profound, adverse effect on societal health and functioning. Specifically, child abuse and neglect are correlated with increased prevalence of public health problems, including community and domestic violence, delinquency, mental health disorders, alcohol and illicit substance use, obesity, suicide, and teen pregnancy. These outcomes, in turn, correlate with increased utilization of public and private resources. (Hagele, 2005)

The answer to the problem is obvious. Preventing child abuse and neglect ensures that children are able to experience the safe and happy childhood they deserve. Preventing child abuse and neglect will reduce the size and impact of a number of other critical social problems in the long term.

Take a stand. Become an advocate to prevent child abuse. Act now! It will benefit children, young people and their families. It will benefit our society.

References
Hagele, D.M. (2005). The impact of maltreatment on the developing child. North Carolina Medical Journal, 66, 356-359. Retrieved August 21, 2008 from http://www.ncmedicaljournal.com/sept-oct-05/Hagele.pdf

Fromm, S. (2001). Total estimated cost of child abuse and neglect in the United States: Statistical evidence. Chicago, IL: Prevent Child Abuse America. Retrieved August 2008 from

http://member.preventchildabuse.org/site/DocServer/cost_analysis.pdf?docID=144

BJS. (1994). Women in Prison. Bureau of Justice Statistics Special Report. Department of Justice. Washington, DC: Bureau of Justice Statistics. Retrieved August 2008 from http://www.ojp.usdoj.gov/bjs/pub/pdf/wopris.pdf

HHS. (2006). Child Maltreatment 2006. U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, Administration on Children, Youth and Families. Washington, DC: Child Maltreatment 2006 (Washington, DC: U.S. Government Printing Office, 2008). Retrieved August 2008 from http://www.acf.hhs.gov/programs/cb/stats_research/

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