UCLA Center for the Study of Women

In 2006, an estimated 1,530 children died in the United States due to maltreatment.2 This figure, a slight increase from 2005,3 translates into an astounding average of four child fatalities per day. Tragically, one or both parents were responsible for almost 76% of child maltreatment fatalities.4 Statistics seem to indicate that mothers are responsible for more child fatalities than fathers, with mothers acting alone accounting for 27.4%, fathers acting alone accounting for 13.1%, and mothers and fathers acting together accounting for 22.4%.5 These heartbreaking statistics suggest that parents, rather than protecting their children, are sometimes a grave threat to them. But a close examination of some of the cases reveals another, equally troubling, pattern.