According to a Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) report, published in the journal Child Abuse and Neglect, 1,740 American children died from child abuse and 579,000 American children experienced nonfatal child abuse, costing the nation $124 billion, in 2008. Child abuse is defined as physical abuse, sexual abuse, psychological abuse and neglect cases. This CDC report highlights the high costs associated with mistreatment of children and calls for change across the nation.
On average, a confirmed nonfatal child abuse case will receive an estimated $210,012 during their lifetimes, covering health care costs, child welfare and other services. In comparison to other health conditions, child abuse costs more than the lifetime cost of stroke and Type 2 diabetes, which total $159,846 per person and $181,000-$253,000 per person, respectively.
In addition, the cost of a confirmed fatal child abuse cost is much higher than nonfatal child abuse cases. An abuse-related child death costs the U.S. an estimated $1.27 million from “productivity losses.”
However, not all damage from child abuse can be corrected with money. Many abused children will endure poorer health, social and emotional difficulties, and decreased economic productivity. According to the report, emotional and behavioral problems are not uncommon among this group. Aggression, conduct disorder, antisocial behavior, substance abuse, intimate partner violence, teenage pregnancy, anxiety, depression and suicide are higher among children who have been abused. Over time, these negative effects generate more burden on the individual and on the nation’s health care, education, criminal justice and welfare systems.
According to the report, the estimated average lifetime cost per victim of nonfatal child maltreatment includes $32,648 in childhood health care costs, $10,530 in adult medical costs, $144,360 in productivity losses, $7,728 in child welfare costs, $6,747 in criminal justice costs, and $7,999 in special education costs.
According to the report, the estimated average lifetime cost per death includes $14,100 in medical costs and $1,258,800 in productivity losses.
Child abuse is a serious issue and it is important to protect children who are suspected of being abused. For more information, on public health child maltreatment prevention activities and research, go to www.cdc.gov/ViolencePrevention.
If you know or suspect a child is being abused, contact the National Child Abuse Hotline at 1-800-4-A-CHILD.
