Child Abuse and Neglect: Prevalence and Incidence

Abstract

This chapter begins by briefly reviewing the conceptual and methodological challenges researchers, practitioners and policy makers face when wanting to make robust estimates of the extent of violence against children within the community. It then considers what is known about levels of violence from incidents of child abuse and neglect reported to services such as the police, health care sectors and child protection agencies. Findings from the growing number of community‐based surveys on violence against children are reviewed. The chapter also considers research on trends in violence and the question as to whether violence against children is increasing or decreasing. Finally, it highlights the implications for practice, arguing that knowledge about the extent and burden of violence against children can be used to improve prevention, identification and response as well as to inform provision, service monitoring and the measurement of outcomes for children.