Final answer:
Children under four years of age, especially infants, are at higher risk of maltreatment, with an incident rate of 20.6 per 1,000 for infants.
Step-by-step explanation:
True, children under four years of age are at greater risk for severe injury and death from maltreatment than older children. Specifically, infants (children less than one year old) have an incident rate of 20.6 per 1,000 infants, making them the most victimized population. Factors such as cultural values, community standards of care, and poverty can contribute to neglect. When parents fail to utilize available public or private services, child welfare services may step in. It's important to note that other factors also contribute to child mortality; worldwide, the top killers of children under five include acute respiratory infections, diarrheal diseases, and malaria, often linked to environmental factors and malnutrition.