Child Abuse Data
Prevent Child Abuse Iowa envisions a state free from child abuse and recognizes the effort it will take to achieve this mission. First, it’s essential to understand the prevalence of child abuse in Iowa today, so we can identify the obstacles we’re facing. Second, it will require Iowans from every community to work together to ensure children are living in homes that are safe and free from abuse.
Every year, Prevent Child Abuse Iowa analyzes reports provided by the Iowa Department of Human Services (DHS). The data reveals trends in child abuse, which assists Prevent Child Abuse Iowa in determining the state’s needs and priorities pertaining to child abuse prevention efforts. The graphs and tables below capture the history, trends, and prevalence of child abuse cases in Iowa. Below, some underlying themes are highlighted.
Number of abused children: 12,595 children were abused in 2010. This is the second consecutive year that abuse has increased in Iowa.
Number of Iowa Children Abused, 2001-2010
| 14,000 | 11,180 | 10,842 | 13,288 | 12,916 | 12,891 | 13,455 | 12,788 | 11,003 | 12,442 | 12,595 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 13,500 | ||||||||||
| 13,000 | ||||||||||
| 12,500 | ||||||||||
| 12,000 | ||||||||||
| 11,500 | ||||||||||
| 11,000 | ||||||||||
| 10,500 | ||||||||||
| 10,000 | ||||||||||
| 2001 | 2002 | 2003 | 2004 | 2005 | 2006 | 2007 | 2008 | 2009 | 2010 |
Age of child abuse victims: Child abuse disproportionately impacts young children. In 2010, over 50% of child abuse victims were under six years old.
Categories of child abuse: More than 4 out of 5 child abuse cases in 2010 were due to denial of critical care, which indicates a parent or caretaker failed to provide adequate food, shelter, clothing, or other care necessary for a child’s well-being. Denial of critical care cases are the fastest growing form of child abuse – 76% of all child abuse in 2006 compared to 81% in 2010.
Percent of Abuse by Category, 2006 and 2010
| Categories of Abuse | 2006 | 2010 |
|---|---|---|
| Denial of Critical Care | 76.0% | 81.1% |
| Physical Abuse | 9.3% | 8.9% |
| Sexual Abuse | 4.2% | 3.3% |
| Drug-Affected Child | 8.6% | 4.4% |
| Access to Sex Offender | 1.1% | 1.4% |
| Meth Manufacturing near a Child | 0.6% | 0.9% |
Specific child abuse data is available per county. More detailed child abuse in Iowa data is available for anyone looking for more information.
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