Natalie Truba, M.A.

Amy Damashek, Ph.D.

Western Michigan University

The U.S. Department of Health and Human Services estimated 702,000 (9.3 per 1,000) children were victims of maltreatment in the year 2009.

Of those, 1,770 children died as a result of child abuse and neglect.

It is important to examine child, family, and incident characteristics of these deaths so that effective prevention strategies can be designed an implemented.

Few studies have examined such factors.

Typically less than 3 years of age

Youngest child in the family

Slightly more likely to be male

Have a history of child maltreatment

Household contains non-related adults.

Family is of low socioeconomic status.

Primary caregiver younger (<20).

Mother did not receive adequate prenatal care.

A parent or other close family member is most often the perpetrator.

Maltreatment related deaths typically occur within the child’s home.

Neglect is the most common form of fatal child maltreatment: However, many studies focus on deaths due to homicide,

and exclude deaths that result from neglect.

It is important to examine whether factors related to physical abuse differ from those related to neglect to better target prevention strategies.

(1) Examine victim, family, and incident characteristics of child maltreatment fatalities in the state of Michigan

(2) Examine whether victim, family, and incident characteristics differed for deaths due to neglect versus physical abuse

Secondary data analysis conducted on data provided the Michigan Child Death Review Board (MCDRB) for the years 2005-2008.

Multi-disciplinary team in every Michigan county. Strive to review all child deaths, including those due to

maltreatment and those that fall under the jurisdiction of the medical examiner.

Completed standardized form to record factors surrounding the death.

Children (under the age of 18 years old) who died as a result of child maltreatment as identified by the Michigan Child Death Review Board.

Total sample size, N=2,773

Total maltreatment deaths, N=147 (5.3% of total deaths): N=113 (due to abuse and neglect)

N=34 (due to poor supervision)

Primarily Caucasian (51%) and African-American (40.1%).

Slightly more likely to be male (53.1%)

Primarily younger than 4 years of age (82.3%) <1 year= 44.9%

Between 1 and 4 years of age= 37.4%

At the time of death: Most did not have an open child welfare case (85.8%).

About half did not have a reported history of child maltreatment (52.8%).

Children who died as a result of child maltreatment typically resided with their biological parents (91.1%) Others:

Foster parent= 3.4%

Grandparent= 2.0%

Adoptive Parent= 1.4%

Primary caregiver was typically female (84.7%)

58.9% of primary caregivers were supervising the child during the incident that resulted in their death 24.1% of secondary caregivers were supervising during

the incident that led to the child’s death

Frequency Valid Percent

Physical Abuse 86 58.5

Poor/Absent Supervision 34 23.1

Child Neglect 27 18.4

Maltreatment Type

Frequency Valid Percent

Homicide 92 62.6

Accident 41 27.9

Undetermined 10 6.8

Natural 4 2.7

Official Manner of Death

Frequency Valid Percent

From an external cause of injury

131 89.1

From a medical condition 12 8.2

Undetermined in injury or medical cause

4 2.7

Primary Cause of Death

Poor Supervision

Abuse Neglect Total

Weapon 2 57 1 60

Asphyxia 9 17 6 32

Drowning 11 0 3 14

Injury Cause by Maltreatment Type

No significant differences found for victim or family characteristics.

No difference in maltreatment history between those who died from abuse versus neglect.

Those who died from poor supervision were less likely to have a history of child maltreatment than those who died from abuse or neglect, (X2(1)=14.964, p=.000).

Victim characteristics in present study are similar to those reported in previous research: Victim characteristics:

<4 years in age

Slightly more likely to be male

Family characteristics: Reside with biological parent(s)

Primary caregiver is female

Primary caregiver typically supervising at time of death

Incident characteristics: Although more children in the sample died from abuse, a substantial portion also died from neglect. Child Maltreatment History

Most children did not have an open child welfare case.

About half did not have a documented history of child maltreatment.

Those who died due to poor supervision were less likely to have a history of child maltreatment than those who died due to abuse or neglect.

Missing data regarding important family, perpetrator and incident variables. SES

Substance use

Perpetrator information

Only examined data for a four year period Since data may fluctuate from year to year, having a

larger data set would provide a more stable estimate of victim, family, and incident characteristics associated with death from maltreatment.

Given that about half of cases had no prior reports to child welfare, agencies other then Child Protective Services may need to be involved in preventing child deaths from maltreatment and poor supervision. These findings may support the need for prevention

programs that target high risk families.

Questions or comments?

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