611 W. Union Street
Benson, AZ 85602
(520) 586-0800

NurseWise 24-Hour Crisis Line
1-866-495-6735



SEABHS
611 W. Union Street
Benson, AZ 85602
(520) 586-0800

NurseWise 24-Hr Crisis Line
1-866-495-6735


powered by centersite dot net
Child & Adolescent Development: Overview
Resources
Basic InformationMore InformationLatest News
A Deadly Form of Diabetes That Doctors Sometimes MissBlood Test Might Predict Type 1 Diabetes in Children, Study FindsCommon Childhood Vaccine Won't Worsen Juvenile Arthritis: StudyBPA Exposure Tied to Undescended Testicles in BoysSibling Bullying Can Lead to Depression, Anxiety in VictimsHealthy and Less Healthy 'Kid's Menu' Meals Similar in PriceHealth Tip: Protect Kids' EyesEarly, Severe Flu Season Caused Big Rise in Child Deaths: CDCTV Commercials May Spur Junk Food Habit in Kids, Study FindsUSPSTF: Evidence Lacking for Child Abuse Preventive EffortsMany Families in Underserved Areas Access, Use TechnologyCutting Unneeded CT Scans in Kids Could Lower Future Cancer RiskFlu Shots at School Boost Vaccination Rates, Study FindsKids With Past Concussions Take Longer to RecoverSummer Camp Health Tips for ParentsDrowning Prevention Measures to Keep Kids Safe in WaterHealth Tip: Get Your Child to the Eye DoctorHealth Tip: Choosing Your Child's PediatricianHealth Tip: Keep Kids Active During Summer BreakWhooping Cough Cases Rise as Parents Opt Out of VaccineMore Kids Being Poisoned by Prescription Drugs: StudyWebsite All About Child Health -- in SpanishWith Legalization, Marijuana Poisoning Up in YouthScientists Spot Genes Tied to Success at School, CollegeHealth Tip: Help Kids With Diabetes Deal With ShotsMissed Well-Child Care Visits Linked to More HospitalizationsA Strong Marriage Can Shield Kids From Dad's Depression: StudyPediatricians Can Aid Children Exposed to Military DeploymentWomen's Weight-Loss Surgery May Benefit Later OffspringMilitary Families May Need Help With Mental HealthType 2 Diabetes Progresses Faster in Kids, Study FindsToo Few Kids Use Fast-Food Calorie Info, Study FindsIodine Deficiency Has Negative Impact on Child CognitionChildren Who Have CT Scans May Face Higher Cancer RiskATS: Adenotonsillectomy Offers Relief to Kids With Sleep ApneaWeather Worries Can Threaten a Child's Mental HealthPrimary Care Docs Should Play Role in Kids' Dental Health, Experts SayStudy: Older Whooping Cough Vaccine More EffectiveHealth Tip: Help Children Eat Healthier1 in 5 U.S. Kids Has a Mental Health Disorder: CDCSchool-Based Smoking Prevention Programs WorkBrain Anatomy in Dyslexics Varies By Gender, Study FindsEven Mild Iodine Deficiency Can Affect Child's CognitionMany U.S. Kids Victims of Violence, Abuse: SurveyKids' Reading, Math Skills Tied to Future SuccessMore Time in Gym Class Equals Stronger KidsMagnesium-Rich Food May Help Keep Kids' Bones StrongGasoline Poisonings in Kids Spike During Summer: StudyPAS: Children With Strep Don't Need to Toss ToothbrushesMany Parents Texting, Phoning While Driving Their Kids: Survey
Questions and AnswersLinksBook Reviews
Related Topics

ADHD: Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder
Childhood Mental Disorders and Illnesses
Parenting
Child Care
Child Development and Parenting: Infants
Child Development and Parenting: Early Childhood

Disabled Kids 4 Times More Likely to Suffer Violence: Study

HealthDay News
by -- Mary Elizabeth Dallas
Updated: Jul 12th 2012

new article illustration

WEDNESDAY, July 11 (HealthDay News) -- One in four children with disabilities experiences some form of violence during their lifetime, a new study has found.

In the report, published online July 11 in The Lancet, researchers from the United Kingdom said that the risk of physical, sexual or emotional abuse or neglect for these children is nearly four times greater than for children who are not disabled.

"The impact of a child's disability on their quality of life is very much dependent on the way other individuals treat them," one of the study authors, Mark Bellis of Liverpool John Moores University in England, said in a journal news release.

"This research establishes that the risk of violence to children with disabilities is routinely three to four times higher than that of nondisabled children. It is the duty of government and civil society to ensure that such victimization is exposed and prevented," Bellis added.

For the study, the investigators examined 17 previous studies involving more than 18,000 children from the United States, the United Kingdom, Sweden, Finland, Spain and Israel. Most of the children were between the ages of 2 and 18 years.

The analysis revealed that nearly 27 percent of the children with disabilities had suffered some form of violence, including physical, sexual or emotional abuse or neglect. The study authors noted that lifetime levels of physical violence and sexual violence were high (20 percent and 14 percent, respectively).

The researchers also estimated that children with disabilities are at least three times more likely to be exposed to physical violence and nearly three times more likely to be exposed to sexual violence compared to children without disabilities.

Kids with mental or intellectual deficits are at greater risk for sexual abuse than children with other types of disabilities or no disabilities at all, the authors noted. However, there wasn't enough information to determine the risk for exposure to sexual violence of children with other types of disabilities, they pointed out.

Dr. Etienne Krug, director of the World Health Organization's department of violence and injury prevention and disability, which contributed to the study, commented in the news release: "The results of this review prove that children with disabilities are disproportionately vulnerable to violence, and their needs have been neglected for far too long. We know that specific strategies exist to prevent violence and mitigate its consequences. We now need to determine if these also work for children with disabilities. An agenda needs to be set for action."

The study authors added that children with disabilities living in developing nations could be at particular risk for exposure to violence.

"Estimates are missing for most regions of the world, particularly low-income and middle-income countries. This is a fundamental gap that needs to be addressed because these countries generally have higher population rates of disability, higher levels of violence and fewer support services than do high-income countries," explained Bellis.

Emily Lund and Jessica Vaughn-Jensen from Texas A&M University, authors of an accompanying comment in The Lancet, concluded in the news release that "researchers need to target under-represented disability groups . . . [to] provide a clear picture of the interactions between the type of disability and risk for violence and maltreatment. Future research should seek to strengthen our knowledge through rigorous studies with diverse populations, both in terms of nationality and type of disability."

More information

The U.S. Department of Health and Human Services has more about preventing abuse in children with disabilities.