Who Are The Child Victims?
Child abuse and neglect affects children of all ages. Among children confirmed as victims by CPS agencies in 1997, more than half were 7 years old or younger, and one-quarter were younger than 4 years old. Approximately 22 percent of victims were children ages 8 to 11; another 25 percent were youth ages 12 to 18. A greater proportion of neglect and medical neglect victims were children younger than 8, while a greater proportion of physical, sexual, and emotional abuse victims were children age 8 or older. In 1997, approximately 52 percent of victims of maltreatment were female, and 47 percent were male. Available data suggest that some differences exist in the types of maltreatment experienced by male and female children. A review of data showed that 77 percent of sexual abuse victims were girls and 23 percent boys. Victims of emotional maltreatment also were somewhat more likely to be female (51%) than male (49%). Conversely, a slightly greater proportion of victims of other types of
