Final answer:
In 2010, infants (children under one year old) had the highest incidence rate of child maltreatment in the U.S. Neglect was the most common form of abuse, and the majority of cases were perpetrated by parents. Socioeconomic factors often contribute to the neglect.
Step-by-step explanation:
The question concerns the number of reported cases of child maltreatment in the United States for a specific age group in the year 2010. Data indicates that infants, defined as children less than one year old, were highly victimized with an incident rate of 20.6 per 1,000 infants. This age group is extremely vulnerable due to their complete dependence on parents for care.
Child abuse comes in various forms, with neglect being the most common, followed by physical, sexual, psychological maltreatment, and medical neglect. The majority of abuse cases are perpetrated by parents or family members. Socioeconomic factors, cultural values, and community standards can all play a role in contributing to neglect.
Understanding the magnitude of this issue, with over 3.3 million reports involving an estimated 5.9 million children, highlights the critical role of professionals and the community in reporting and preventing child abuse. When public or private services are available and a parent fails to utilize them, child welfare services may step in to protect the child.