According to the Canadian Incidence Study of Reported Child Abuse and Neglect, 2003: Major Findings, published in 2005, about 217,319 child maltreatment investigations were held in 2003 among all Canadian jurisdictions except Quebec. Of these cases, 47% were substantiated, while in 13% of cases, there was insufficient evidence to substantiate the abuse or neglect. About 40% of the cases were unsubstantiated.

Types of Child Maltreatment

As in the United States, neglect was the largest category of substantiated maltreatment, and in 30% of all cases, neglect was the main category of maltreatment. Other types of maltreatment were exposure to domestic violence (28%), physical abuse (24%), emotional maltreatment (15%) and sexual abuse (3%). In about 81% of the cases of substantiated maltreatment, one category alone was identified, while in the other cases, multiple maltreatment forms were present.

When only one category was identified, 25% of the 81% of cases involved neglect only, 25% involved allegations of domestic violence only, 18% of the cases involved physical abuse only, and 11% involved emotional maltreatment only. (Two percent involved sexual abuse only.)

Physical Abuse Definitions and Incidence

The Canadians identified physical abuse as including one or more of five forms of physical abuse, including the following:

-           Pulling, dragging or shaking or throwing a child

-           Slapping or hitting a child

-           Biting, punching or kicking a child

-           Hitting a child with an object or throwing an object at a child

-           Abusing a child in another way, such as stabbing, burning, poisoning, shooting, choking, strangling and so forth

In 2003, there were 25,257 substantiated investigations of physical abuse nationwide in Canada. Physical abuse represented 24% of all substantiated forms of child maltreatment. Male children were victimized in 54% of the cases of physical abuse, and females were victimized in 46% of the cases.

Sexual Abuse Definitions and Incidence

The Canadians defined several separate forms of sexual abuse, including

-           Penile, anal, digital or object penetration of the vagina or anus

-           Attempted penetration of the vagina or anus

-           Oral sex

-           Fondling of the genitals

-           Sex talk in person, on the phone, in writing or over the internet

There were 2,935 substantiated investigations of sexual abuse in Canada in 2003. Sexual abuse represented 3% of the cases of all forms of substantiated child maltreatment. Girls were victims in 63% of the cases, and boys were involved in 37% of the cases.

Neglect Definitions and Incidence

The Canadian researchers identified eight different forms of neglect, including

-           Failure to supervise the child--physical harm (The parent or caretaker failed to protect the child adequately, such as with drunk driving with a child in the car or performing criminal activities in the presence of a child.)

-           Failure to supervise--sexual abuse

-           Physical neglect (insufficient or inadequate nutrition or clothing or dangerous living conditions)

-           Medical neglect

-           Failure to provide psychological/psychiatric treatment to a child

-           Permitting criminal behavior

-           Abandonment

-           Educational neglect

In 2003, neglect cases represented 24% of all substantiated forms of child abuse. Fifty-two percent of the cases involved boys and 48% involved girls.

Emotional Maltreatment Definitions and Incidence

The Canadian researchers defined emotional maltreatment as the following:

-           Emotional abuse (emotional, mental or developmental problems caused by extreme verbal abuse and overt hostility)

-           Nonorganic failure to thrive (For example, if a child under age three has ceased growing or has marked retardation due to inadequate nutrition caused by physical neglect.)

-           Emotional neglect (emotional, developmental or mental problems caused by inadequate nurturance)

-           Exposure to non-intimate violence exclusive of domestic violence (such as violence occurring between adults within the home setting, i.e., between the child's father and an acquaintance of the father)

In 2003, emotional maltreatment represented 15% of all substantiated forms of child maltreatment. Fifty-four percent of the cases involved girls and 46% involved boys.

Domestic Violence and Incidence

In most areas of Canada, exposure to domestic violence (such as between two parents or a parent and a live-in partner) is considered a separate category of abuse. In 2003, there were 35,116 substantiated investigations of domestic violence in the presence of children in Canada.

Exposure to domestic violence represented 28% of all cases of substantiated child maltreatment in 2003. Fifty-two percent of the cases involved boys and 48% involved girls.

Child Abuse Laws Vary by Province or Territory

Child maltreatment laws in Canada are written at the provincial or territorial level, and they vary considerably. Some areas investigate allegations of abuse only for children younger than ages 16 (Newfoundland and Labrador, Nova Scotia, Ontario, Saskatchewan, the Northwest Territories and Nunavut), while others will investigate allegations for individuals younger than age 18 or 19 years (Quebec, Manitoba, Alberta and the Yukon Territory). Some areas will investigate allegations up to age 18 or 19 only if the youths are disabled, such as Prince Edward Island and New Brunswick.

Characteristics of Maltreated Children in Canada

The Canadian Incidence Study of Reported Child Abuse and Neglect, 2003 also revealed information about maltreated children. For example, girls represented 49% of victims of all maltreatment, but they represented a greater percentage of those who suffered sexual abuse (63%) and emotional maltreatment (54%) than boys. In contrast, boys were more frequently victims of physical abuse (54%), neglect (52%) and exposure to domestic violence (52%).

In considering age, children ages seven and younger were more likely to be exposed to domestic violence (60%) than older children. However, older children, ages eight to 15 years, were more likely to be physically abused (70%) or sexually abused (67%) than younger children.

Household Characteristics of Abused Children

The Canadian Incidence Study of Reported Child Abuse and Neglect, 2003 also revealed characteristics of the households of maltreated children. For example, about a third (32%) of the abused children lived with both biological parents, while 16% lived in families in which one caregiver was either a stepparent, common law partner or adoptive parent. In 39% of the cases, the abused child or children lived with the mother only, while in 4% of the cases, the child or children lived with the father only.

Perpetrators of Child Abuse

According to the Canadian report, the largest numbers of the perpetrators of neglect, physical abuse, emotional maltreatment and exposure were biological mothers and fathers; however, the largest numbers of perpetrators of sexual abuse were other relatives.

In considering nonrelative perpetrators of abuse, there were few perpetrators for most forms of abuse; however, the largest number of cases of sexual abuse was perpetrated by a peer of the child, followed by an acquaintance.

Reference:

Trocme, Nico, et al. Canadian Incidence Study of Reported Child Abuse and Neglect, 2003: Major Findings. Ontario, Canada: Minister of Public Works and Government Services Canada, 2005.

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