Final answer:
More than 3.3 million reports of child abuse were filed in 2010, involving around 5.9 million children, with neglect being the predominant form of abuse. An estimated 1,400 babies annually suffer from shaken-baby syndrome, leading to death or serious injury. Child welfare services intervene when parents or caregivers fail to protect children, especially infants who are most vulnerable.
Step-by-step explanation:
Child abuse is a dire global issue affecting millions of children. In 2010, there were more than 3.3 million reports of child abuse, involving an estimated 5.9 million children. Different forms of child abuse exist with neglect being the most common, followed by physical abuse, sexual abuse, psychological maltreatment, and medical neglect. Unfortunately, a staggering figure is that it is estimated each year 1,400 babies suffer death or serious injury from being shaken, often referred to as shaken-baby syndrome.
Factors like cultural values, community standards of care, and poverty can contribute to neglect. Moreover, in cases where public or private services are available to aid in parenting and these are not utilized, child welfare services may need to intervene, particularly when infants (under one year old) who are highly susceptible to neglect are involved.
The majority of abuse comes from parents or family members, with parents as perpetrators in 81.2% of cases. It's crucial to note the distinction between child abuse and other causes of death amongst children such as disease, where in low-income countries, the child mortality rate is significantly higher compared to high-income countries.