Death from child abuse and neglect

The prevalence of death from child abuse and neglect is unknown. The best incidence data come from countries such as the USA, New Zealand, and Australia, where multidisciplinary death-review teams analyse the causes of child deaths. The reliability of these data varies with definitions, diligence, and data organisation. In England, for example, only selected cases are reviewed. The cause of a child's death can be difficult to ascertain. One study by the US Center for Injury Control found that 85% of deaths from child abuse and neglect were recorded as due to other causes. In the USA, the most common causes of child deaths are accidents, homicide, and suicide. All three of these causes are related. But how often is non-intentional death (accidental death) due to neglect? Are parents and society ever completely responsible for the safety of children? And are infanticides recognised as homicides and reported as forms of abuse? In the USA, there were 028 cases of infanticide per 1000 live births per year during 1990-95. For the same period in Sweden, the rate was 0.01. Can pathologists determine whether the baby was alive or dead when he or she was disposed of? And how often is suicide the result of child maltreatment? War-a form of societal neglect-has killed and continues to kill more children than other forms of child abuse and neglect. Can any country that condones child victims of war be regarded as developed?