A comparative study of neglected children and abused children from December 1973 through June 1976 in the state of Texas
| dc.contributor.author | Short, Barbara N.,1951- | |
| dc.date.accessioned | 2024-07-16T14:45:35Z | |
| dc.date.available | 2024-07-16T14:45:35Z | |
| dc.date.issued | 1977-05 | |
| dc.description.abstract | In the literature of childcare, the area of child neglect is frequently confused and often combined with child abuse. The Professional confused in Texas appears to be to identify neglect and abuse of children as a family problem and to treat them as one. However, several authorities recognize that the two areas may be related, but stress child neglect and child abuse are by no means identical. Therefore, the need was seen to differentiate between the two areas in the State of Texas. The purpose of this study was to compare the number of neglected children to the number of abused children as reported to the Texas Department of Public Welfare from December 1973 through June 1976, in an attempt to determine where the greatest emphasis of allied social services should be directed. Specific questions were asked regarding the victims and perpetrators involved with neglect, abuse, and both child neglect and abuse. Methods The procedures of investigation in this study were: (1) obtaining statistics on child neglect and abuse from the Texas Department of Public Welfare’s state computer, (2) devising a schedule to tabulate the data for analysis, (3) constructing tables for comparisons and interpretations as constructing tables for comparisons and interpretations as related to social services in implementing treatment programs. Findings: 1. The data revealed that child neglect is reported more than twice the number of reports of child abuse. 2. Lack of supervision was the neglect type most frequently reported. 3. Bruises were the high-volume type of abuse reported more frequently. 4. The primary victims of neglect were Anglo males between 7-10 years of age within 0-3 years closely related in size. 5. The primary abused victims were found to be Anglo Females in the 0-3 years age group. 6. In both neglect and abuse, the primary perpetrators of these children were the mothers between 26-40 years of age. 7. The number of fatalities in both neglect and abuse were very close in reports. 8. Medical neglect was reported most frequently in child neglect, while bruises were the abuse type most reported. 9. One percent of all the neglect reports resulted in the death of a child as compared to 3 percent of the abuse reports. | |
| dc.identifier.uri | https://hdl.handle.net/20.500.11875/4487 | |
| dc.language.iso | en_US | |
| dc.publisher | Sam Houston State University | |
| dc.subject | Child abuse | |
| dc.subject | Texas | |
| dc.subject | Child welfare | |
| dc.title | A comparative study of neglected children and abused children from December 1973 through June 1976 in the state of Texas | |
| dc.type | Thesis | |
| thesis.degree.name | Master of Art |