Final answer:
About 30 percent of individuals who suffered from child abuse may become neglectful or abusive parents as adults. Various factors can contribute to the perpetuation of this cycle, including substance abuse and social factors. Support services are essential for breaking this cycle and protecting vulnerable children, especially infants.
Step-by-step explanation:
As many as 30 percent of individuals who are abused grow up to be abusive, neglectful, or inadequate parents themselves. This statistic highlights the cyclical nature of abuse, where children who experience abuse have a higher likelihood of replicating similar behaviors in adulthood. This cycle of abuse is influenced by various factors, including drug and alcohol use, social isolation, depression, low parental education, and a history of being mistreated as a child.
Infants, in particular, are a vulnerable group when considering neglect due to their total dependence on parental care. Factors such as cultural values, the standard of care in a community, and poverty can contribute to a hazardous level of neglect. When public or private services are available, but a parent fails to utilize them, child welfare services may need to take action to protect the child.