Crackdowns, publicity reduce child abuse

Experts hailed the findings of a study last week as proof that crackdowns and public awareness campaigns had made headway in reducing child abuse in the U.S.

The findings were contained in the fourth installment of the National Incidence Study of Child Abuse and Neglect, a congressionally mandated study.

The number of sexually abused children decreased from 217,700 in 1993 to 135,300 in 2005-06 — a 38% drop, the study showed.

What’s different?

“There’s much more public awareness and public intolerance around child abuse now,” said Linda Spears, the Child Welfare League of America’s vice president for public policy.

“It was a hidden concern before — people were afraid to talk about it if it was in their family.”

I’d say that number is still too damn high.  A drop of 26% in  13 years is nothing to write home about.