The people today weigh more than their parents and grandparents when they were on the same age. Obesity is a global problem that is extremely serious. It is even classified as epidemic by some. The child obesity statistics are really shocking not only due to the large percentage of obese children. It has been estimated that an obese adolescent has a higher risk of suffering from heart attack, stroke or Type II diabetes much earlier in life. In order for solutions of the problem to be found the causes of obesity has to be assessed first.
The numbers show that 19.6% of the children of 6 to 11 years of age are obese. The percentage of extremely overweight adolescents between 12 and 19 is 18.1%. These are the numbers from the main child obesity statistics, but there are independent studies that claim the percentage of obese children is over 25%. These figures are way too large and they are expected to increase in the following years. But what are the main reasons behind this threatening statistical data?
Perhaps the main reason for child obesity is the lack of sufficient physical activity. In the past the kids used to eat candy and cookies as well, but they also used to play outdoors almost all the time irrespective of the season. The games usually involved a lot of exercise. At present the children are obsessed with computer games which require no physical effort whatsoever.
The poor diet is also a factor for child obesity. Most kids nowadays love junk food and eat it almost all the time. The fried and sweet foods from the fast food restaurant are also quite popular. The youngsters do not have healthy eating habits. They snack every time and drink primarily sugary carbonated beverages. At the same time they disregard he fruit and the vegetables in particular simply because they are not equally tasty.
Another serious problem is that most families do not have healthy nutrition habits in general. If the parents are overweight and they place their child on a diet, he/she will be highly unlikely to keep it. Even though there are healthy nutrition educational programs in most schools, the kids cannot simply reject the food they are served at home.
The child obesity statistics have high numbers for yet another psychological reason. The lack of self esteem, the stress and the depression lead to greater food consumption. This problem is really serious with adolescents as they are particularly sensitive about the opinion of others.
Pay Close Attention...
Friday, November 4, 2011
Childhood Obesity Statistics Are Rising - What Can Parents Do?
Are we as parents in a position to do something about the alarming childhood obesity statistics?
Of course we are! In fact we are obliged to. Although the USA seems the worst hit, childhood obesity statistics are of concern worldwide. It is clear that the primary drivers of the increase in childhood obesity are:
* Fast food
* Sodas (sweetened cold drinks of all kinds)
* Sedentary lifestyle
The dangerChildhood obesity statistics show the problem manifesting in two areas:
1. The physical risks where children are being diagnosed with diabetes previously only found in adults; heart diseases; chronic illnesses and digestive problems.
2. Obese children also suffer psychological damage as a result of being teased, not being able to partake in sport, and the general social unacceptability of weight.
The factsThe USA has about 25 million kids in the 12 - 19 year old age group classified as being overweight, nearly three times what it was 40 years ago. The concern regarding childhood obesity statistics is therefore very real, and overweight adolescents have a 70% chance of becoming overweight adults.
What to do? Fast food should be a treat, not a daily meal. The amount of sugar in fast foods is not urban myth, it is put there specifically to create an insulin spike. Once the sugar has rushed through your child's system the sugar high becomes a downer, and leaves the child craving more.
The same applies to sodas - they have a very high sugar content. Energy drinks are even worse - most energy drinks contain less nutrients than ordinary tap water. I know kids are not keen on water, so just try and make wise choices and set an example. Since my son realized that I drink 16 glasses of water per day he has started alternating water and juice.
Childhood obesity statistics displayed on a graph rises in almost perfect correlation with the increase in turnover generated by fast food and soda companies.
Then of course there is exercise. This can vary greatly depending on personal circumstances, but kids enjoy almost any form of outdoor games. Go kick a soccer ball or toss a football with your kid. Not only is it exercise for them but good bonding time and a stress relief for you.
Of course we are! In fact we are obliged to. Although the USA seems the worst hit, childhood obesity statistics are of concern worldwide. It is clear that the primary drivers of the increase in childhood obesity are:
* Fast food
* Sodas (sweetened cold drinks of all kinds)
* Sedentary lifestyle
The dangerChildhood obesity statistics show the problem manifesting in two areas:
1. The physical risks where children are being diagnosed with diabetes previously only found in adults; heart diseases; chronic illnesses and digestive problems.
2. Obese children also suffer psychological damage as a result of being teased, not being able to partake in sport, and the general social unacceptability of weight.
The factsThe USA has about 25 million kids in the 12 - 19 year old age group classified as being overweight, nearly three times what it was 40 years ago. The concern regarding childhood obesity statistics is therefore very real, and overweight adolescents have a 70% chance of becoming overweight adults.
What to do? Fast food should be a treat, not a daily meal. The amount of sugar in fast foods is not urban myth, it is put there specifically to create an insulin spike. Once the sugar has rushed through your child's system the sugar high becomes a downer, and leaves the child craving more.
The same applies to sodas - they have a very high sugar content. Energy drinks are even worse - most energy drinks contain less nutrients than ordinary tap water. I know kids are not keen on water, so just try and make wise choices and set an example. Since my son realized that I drink 16 glasses of water per day he has started alternating water and juice.
Childhood obesity statistics displayed on a graph rises in almost perfect correlation with the increase in turnover generated by fast food and soda companies.
Then of course there is exercise. This can vary greatly depending on personal circumstances, but kids enjoy almost any form of outdoor games. Go kick a soccer ball or toss a football with your kid. Not only is it exercise for them but good bonding time and a stress relief for you.
Why Are Obesity Statistics Skyrocketing?
How can I make a promise like that - and keep it? Because I know the reason obesity statistics are soaring. I can prove to you how it happened. I can teach you how to get your body to help you lose the weight. I can show you how to fix your damaged metabolism and put it back to work so it can control and balance your weight the way nature always intended. Only then will it do the job it was designed to do.
How can I know all that that? I am seventy years old. I didn't just witness the events that brought us to this disaster, I experienced the consequences. I was there when publicity hungry people set up a quasi-medical niche. They wanted to promote a diet that would give them authority respect and a healthy income. The diet they created to make that happen, went on to ruin the body and health of millions of people.
This was a time when nobody dieted except sick people. To present a new different way of eating, they reversed engineer our traditional diet. They did it without ever testing this diet. There was no research or trials or any other form of testing. Nobody verified if our digestive and intestinal system could handle this radical change. No one could say if it was safe for the human body. There is ample proof that it was not!
I was witness to how a "cholesterol stuff up" caused even medical professionals to promote that fateful diet. We are paying the price for that Stuff Up to this day. What was that diet? You will have heard of it. It was called The Pyramid Diet.
Why is such an obviously damaging diet still around? The people who continue to profit from it are still around. They have the ear of governments and institutions. Apart from self-nominated diet experts, These include the cereal, diet and snack food industries. These are powerful groups influence governments and institutions.
They have been able to enforce their diet in our schools. They have affected the health of each generation of kids for forty years. They cause them to become addicted to carbohydrates.
Do you find that hard to believe? Take a look at the kids in any schoolyard. They do not just suffer budding weight problems. They are not just plump in a cute way. They are heading for obesity. Many already suffer type2 diabetes. Even a dozen years ago this would have horrified any parent. Today they are told to blame fast food and hope their kids will grow out of it.
I hate when things don't make sense and diets don't make sense. Few people, other than sick people, ever dieted till the seventies. We were well fed in those days, but our diet was not what we eat today. So how did I become an expert on obesity statistics and bad diets?
I was a victim. I was put on the Pyramid Diet to cure my high cholesterol. Did it help? Of course not. It wasn't long before had a weight problem. Life became a constant battle with my weight and a nagging feeling that something didn't make sense. I could see the puzzle but none of the pieces would fit.
How could medicine and science ignore something so obvious: Surely our body's response to what we eat is as important as our response to drugs or anything else we put into our mouths. How could amateurs get away with a complete reversal of a traditional diet we had used for generations.
Unfortunately it was all too easy. No diet needs approval - even today, no matter how ridicules, dangerous or extreme it may be. No diet has ever been scientifically tested or trialled to verify that it works, or that our body can handle it. It is simply let loose on the public for them to test it.
We the public are the only lab rats who test these diets. In the past forty years not one single diet has proved to work permanently. They say our body will adapt to any diet. The fact is the body never adapts. - It evolves, and evolution takes centuries.
Many of the things I want to tell you, you should have learned in school. Schools should teach our children the basic facts about how the body works. They used to, before the seventies, at least in Europe. The trouble is, too many vested interests want to keep everybody in the dark. That's the only way their 'theories' can carry any weight.
If everyone knew the facts, none of these self-nominated experts could have gotten away with turning sixty % of the population into victims of weight problems and obesity. I trust your basic instincts to know and recognize the truth when you hear it. You may not like it, but I hope you agree it's a long time overdue.
How can I know all that that? I am seventy years old. I didn't just witness the events that brought us to this disaster, I experienced the consequences. I was there when publicity hungry people set up a quasi-medical niche. They wanted to promote a diet that would give them authority respect and a healthy income. The diet they created to make that happen, went on to ruin the body and health of millions of people.
This was a time when nobody dieted except sick people. To present a new different way of eating, they reversed engineer our traditional diet. They did it without ever testing this diet. There was no research or trials or any other form of testing. Nobody verified if our digestive and intestinal system could handle this radical change. No one could say if it was safe for the human body. There is ample proof that it was not!
I was witness to how a "cholesterol stuff up" caused even medical professionals to promote that fateful diet. We are paying the price for that Stuff Up to this day. What was that diet? You will have heard of it. It was called The Pyramid Diet.
Why is such an obviously damaging diet still around? The people who continue to profit from it are still around. They have the ear of governments and institutions. Apart from self-nominated diet experts, These include the cereal, diet and snack food industries. These are powerful groups influence governments and institutions.
They have been able to enforce their diet in our schools. They have affected the health of each generation of kids for forty years. They cause them to become addicted to carbohydrates.
Do you find that hard to believe? Take a look at the kids in any schoolyard. They do not just suffer budding weight problems. They are not just plump in a cute way. They are heading for obesity. Many already suffer type2 diabetes. Even a dozen years ago this would have horrified any parent. Today they are told to blame fast food and hope their kids will grow out of it.
I hate when things don't make sense and diets don't make sense. Few people, other than sick people, ever dieted till the seventies. We were well fed in those days, but our diet was not what we eat today. So how did I become an expert on obesity statistics and bad diets?
I was a victim. I was put on the Pyramid Diet to cure my high cholesterol. Did it help? Of course not. It wasn't long before had a weight problem. Life became a constant battle with my weight and a nagging feeling that something didn't make sense. I could see the puzzle but none of the pieces would fit.
How could medicine and science ignore something so obvious: Surely our body's response to what we eat is as important as our response to drugs or anything else we put into our mouths. How could amateurs get away with a complete reversal of a traditional diet we had used for generations.
Unfortunately it was all too easy. No diet needs approval - even today, no matter how ridicules, dangerous or extreme it may be. No diet has ever been scientifically tested or trialled to verify that it works, or that our body can handle it. It is simply let loose on the public for them to test it.
We the public are the only lab rats who test these diets. In the past forty years not one single diet has proved to work permanently. They say our body will adapt to any diet. The fact is the body never adapts. - It evolves, and evolution takes centuries.
Many of the things I want to tell you, you should have learned in school. Schools should teach our children the basic facts about how the body works. They used to, before the seventies, at least in Europe. The trouble is, too many vested interests want to keep everybody in the dark. That's the only way their 'theories' can carry any weight.
If everyone knew the facts, none of these self-nominated experts could have gotten away with turning sixty % of the population into victims of weight problems and obesity. I trust your basic instincts to know and recognize the truth when you hear it. You may not like it, but I hope you agree it's a long time overdue.
Obesity Statistics: Body Mass Index And Belly Fat
Fat! Fatter! Fattest!
It seems we are in a contest with ourselves as a county to continue our #1 ranking in the world as the most obese country. In at least one study, the USA was tops with 30.6% of the population being obese. We were way ahead of Mexico [24.2%] and the UK [23%]
This is not a category where being #1 [or even 2 or 3] is good! It means that we have more obese people who are more prone to diabetes and heart ailments and other weight related illnesses. It also means we have more people who cannot manage other illnesses due to the weight they carry.
And what does it means for the lower limbs? Are legs, feet and ankles able to keep providing a base for the obese body? I don't know.
Additionally, obese people tend to create obese children who in turn tend to become obese adults and... and. So we cycle through more and more obesity - and it is a cycle that has to stop!
Yet many obese people think their weight is fine and that they are not obese or not even overweight. We have seemingly immunized ourselves to what is actually meant by overweight and obese. We see so many such people that it seems to be the new norm - almost like the overly skinny look when Twiggy was popular in the 1960's.
Folks - there is a moderate position between too skinny and being overweight or obese and that's what is called normal weight for your height.
There is a calculation called BMI [body mass index] that gives you a number and the range into which you fall. Your BMI will give you some indication of your weight category - but it is not the only statistic that matters. [BMI calculators can be found online by searching for the term.]
Your girth measurement [aka belly fat] is also important - especially as you age. Fat tends to accumulate in the midsection and that fat is known to be a health risk factor.
One study suggested that people with belly fat, even if they are at a healthy weight, had a higher risk of dying than their same-weight peers without that fat. Too much belly fat increased one's mortality risk, regardless of the BMI number.
So it isn't just your weight - or your BMI - it's your whole picture [including your mid-section.]
So get out that tape measure and camera - they may save your life!
From Lynn Dorman, Ph.D. - who is 70+ - and has, over many decades, advocated on behalf of children and adults - for good nutrition, supplements, exercise and watching one's weight!
The difference is that now I am no longer considered "weird" for saying these things!
It seems we are in a contest with ourselves as a county to continue our #1 ranking in the world as the most obese country. In at least one study, the USA was tops with 30.6% of the population being obese. We were way ahead of Mexico [24.2%] and the UK [23%]
This is not a category where being #1 [or even 2 or 3] is good! It means that we have more obese people who are more prone to diabetes and heart ailments and other weight related illnesses. It also means we have more people who cannot manage other illnesses due to the weight they carry.
And what does it means for the lower limbs? Are legs, feet and ankles able to keep providing a base for the obese body? I don't know.
Additionally, obese people tend to create obese children who in turn tend to become obese adults and... and. So we cycle through more and more obesity - and it is a cycle that has to stop!
Yet many obese people think their weight is fine and that they are not obese or not even overweight. We have seemingly immunized ourselves to what is actually meant by overweight and obese. We see so many such people that it seems to be the new norm - almost like the overly skinny look when Twiggy was popular in the 1960's.
Folks - there is a moderate position between too skinny and being overweight or obese and that's what is called normal weight for your height.
There is a calculation called BMI [body mass index] that gives you a number and the range into which you fall. Your BMI will give you some indication of your weight category - but it is not the only statistic that matters. [BMI calculators can be found online by searching for the term.]
Your girth measurement [aka belly fat] is also important - especially as you age. Fat tends to accumulate in the midsection and that fat is known to be a health risk factor.
One study suggested that people with belly fat, even if they are at a healthy weight, had a higher risk of dying than their same-weight peers without that fat. Too much belly fat increased one's mortality risk, regardless of the BMI number.
So it isn't just your weight - or your BMI - it's your whole picture [including your mid-section.]
So get out that tape measure and camera - they may save your life!
From Lynn Dorman, Ph.D. - who is 70+ - and has, over many decades, advocated on behalf of children and adults - for good nutrition, supplements, exercise and watching one's weight!
The difference is that now I am no longer considered "weird" for saying these things!
7 Ways to Decrease Childhood Obesity Statistics
Childhood obesity is on the rise. Statistics show that overweight children are becoming the norm for American families and the current trend has no end. This alarming statistic has everyone looking for ways to curb children's weight gain.
New diets are being born every hour along with medical procedures promising expensive surgery as the answer. No wonder parents and kids are confused and don't know what to do. This article takes a practical approach to lowering the dreadful childhood obesity statistic and shed some common sense ideas for parents to explore. A book titled "Underage and Overweight" by Frances M. Berg, MS, LN gives 7 steps to reversing childhood obesity.
She advocates living healthy in 4 major areas of life: living actively, eating well, feeling good about yourself and feeling good about others. Her goal is for lasting changes in families of obesity and to discard any quick fixes that may come your way.
Her 7 steps are as follows:
1. Normalize activity
2. Normalize eating
3. Balance sound nutrition
4. Feel good about yourself
5. Communicate feelings
6. Feel good about others
7. Balance the dimensions of wellness
Focusing on negatives such as weight loss and dieting does more harm than it does good and a parents real intentions should be directed to healthy lifestyle programs instead of diets
Ms Berg states very accurately that changing lifestyles takes time and involves not only the physical body, but the conscious and subconscious mind as well. This she adds does not happen overnight.
She advocates that your child will progress most easily when you break new health habits into small steps, each appropriate to age level and building on the one before. This common sense method is similar to how your child learned to talk. At first cooing and babbling until words begin to form. Moms and dads encouraged baby to all along the way by praising and repeating the words over and over until it became permanent.
To sum up Ms Berg states "instead of encouraging large kids to lose weight or restrict food, it is better to help them build self esteem and become more active." These words are profound and if applied properly can decrease childhood statistics everywhere, even in your own home.
New diets are being born every hour along with medical procedures promising expensive surgery as the answer. No wonder parents and kids are confused and don't know what to do. This article takes a practical approach to lowering the dreadful childhood obesity statistic and shed some common sense ideas for parents to explore. A book titled "Underage and Overweight" by Frances M. Berg, MS, LN gives 7 steps to reversing childhood obesity.
She advocates living healthy in 4 major areas of life: living actively, eating well, feeling good about yourself and feeling good about others. Her goal is for lasting changes in families of obesity and to discard any quick fixes that may come your way.
Her 7 steps are as follows:
1. Normalize activity
2. Normalize eating
3. Balance sound nutrition
4. Feel good about yourself
5. Communicate feelings
6. Feel good about others
7. Balance the dimensions of wellness
Focusing on negatives such as weight loss and dieting does more harm than it does good and a parents real intentions should be directed to healthy lifestyle programs instead of diets
Ms Berg states very accurately that changing lifestyles takes time and involves not only the physical body, but the conscious and subconscious mind as well. This she adds does not happen overnight.
She advocates that your child will progress most easily when you break new health habits into small steps, each appropriate to age level and building on the one before. This common sense method is similar to how your child learned to talk. At first cooing and babbling until words begin to form. Moms and dads encouraged baby to all along the way by praising and repeating the words over and over until it became permanent.
To sum up Ms Berg states "instead of encouraging large kids to lose weight or restrict food, it is better to help them build self esteem and become more active." These words are profound and if applied properly can decrease childhood statistics everywhere, even in your own home.
Adolescent Obesity Statistics in America
The news concerning adolescent obesity statistics in America, nationally and globally is startling, and many professionals are sounding the alarm.
The problem of increasing overweight and fatness for children, including teenagers in the United States is a mixture of many factors, including decrease physical activity, bigger portion sizes, plus a growing amount of food consumed away from home, particularly at school.
The solutions lie at home, in the educational institutions, also within your communities. Nutrition standards, personal behavior modification, collective marketing to promote proper exercise, healthy eating, parental support in schools, role modeling, changes in school vending and food services policies are all part of the solution.
It is estimated that more than 75 - 80% of overweight youth will remain overweight into adulthood. Genetics plays a key role in the risk of corpulence, what happens next is upbringing. Both are likely to play a role in overweight and corpulence. Also the number of youth who have a television in their bedroom has risen to 65%; this only promotes more unhealthy behavior, in addition adds to the old couch potato syndrome. Nutrition, fatness, along with physical activity should be concerns for every person at every age.
For adolescents ages (12 - 19) 30.4% are overweight and 15.5% are obese. In 1995 studies showed that 35% of the college students were overweight, for adolescents 18 - 25 years of age 27% were overweight. Research done in year 2000 showed that 31% of the general population of 20 year olds was overweight; today's recent studies show the numbers just continue to climb.
We must not over look adolescent obesity statistics in America when it comes to the serious disease factors. The data for serious health risk are astounding, carrying great risk for premature death for our youth, thus influencing the short and long term prospect for severe health problems such as Coronary Heart Disease, Cancer, Type II Diabetes, plus many other serious health risks.
Improving the health of teenagers is a priority for America. When a youth is in good health it enables them to make the most of their life, all the while laying a sturdy foundation for grown-up life.
The problem of increasing overweight and fatness for children, including teenagers in the United States is a mixture of many factors, including decrease physical activity, bigger portion sizes, plus a growing amount of food consumed away from home, particularly at school.
The solutions lie at home, in the educational institutions, also within your communities. Nutrition standards, personal behavior modification, collective marketing to promote proper exercise, healthy eating, parental support in schools, role modeling, changes in school vending and food services policies are all part of the solution.
It is estimated that more than 75 - 80% of overweight youth will remain overweight into adulthood. Genetics plays a key role in the risk of corpulence, what happens next is upbringing. Both are likely to play a role in overweight and corpulence. Also the number of youth who have a television in their bedroom has risen to 65%; this only promotes more unhealthy behavior, in addition adds to the old couch potato syndrome. Nutrition, fatness, along with physical activity should be concerns for every person at every age.
For adolescents ages (12 - 19) 30.4% are overweight and 15.5% are obese. In 1995 studies showed that 35% of the college students were overweight, for adolescents 18 - 25 years of age 27% were overweight. Research done in year 2000 showed that 31% of the general population of 20 year olds was overweight; today's recent studies show the numbers just continue to climb.
We must not over look adolescent obesity statistics in America when it comes to the serious disease factors. The data for serious health risk are astounding, carrying great risk for premature death for our youth, thus influencing the short and long term prospect for severe health problems such as Coronary Heart Disease, Cancer, Type II Diabetes, plus many other serious health risks.
Improving the health of teenagers is a priority for America. When a youth is in good health it enables them to make the most of their life, all the while laying a sturdy foundation for grown-up life.
Childhood Obesity Statistics and Diabetes
The picture of health presented by current childhood obesity statistics is not a rosy one. The percentage of obese or overweight children in the United States has roughly doubled between 1971 and 2000.
Obesity has become widespread among both adults and children in the United States. The prevalence of overweight and obese children has increased from 15% in 1971 to more than 30% in 2000.
Does obesity follow ethnicity?
There are large disparities in the childhood overweight situation in the Los Angeles County in California. One report published in January, 2006, shows children of Latin American decent leading the "Overweight" competition in that western US state.
It shows the childhood obesity problem divided among ethnic groups like this:
* 19.4% ... African Americans (or Blacks)
* 17.6% ... American Indians
* 11.9% ... Asians
* 25.2% ... Latinos
* 20.0% ... Pacific Islanders
* 13.0% ... whites
One can surmise that this may be typical of the general US population. I suppose that any variation in this distribution may simply follow the demographic make-up of respective localities.
But I remember reading an article where the writer was ranting about how Caucasians and Latin Americans viewed the definition of overweight or being "fat" differently.
According to article, the meaning of overweight differs from one culture to the other. Apparently, Whites like to be "movie-star-thin" but Latinos like the "curves." In other words, thin looks sick to Latinos and curves look "fat" to whites.
What childhood obesity statistics predict about diabetes
Whatever the view one takes regarding having bodily curves or being bodily thin, the real issue is health. How do the curves or the thins relate to lifestyle conditions like diabetes and hypertension?
One of the startling realities I came across as I looked at some childhood obesity statistics was this sentence from a research articles: "Sports participation among children is declining."
1. Children who are "not thin" and have lots of "curves", in other words, who are considered obese or overweight **and** are are not physically active, have significant odds of being type 2 diabetics before they even become adults.
2. Children who are thin, i.e. are not considered obese or overweight, **but** who are not physically active, can become overweight and have the same fate as those who are already overweight or obese.
Children especially need proper diet and physical exercise
With these areas of our lives being neglected everyday, we can expect the childhood obesity statistics to continue to point towards a grim future for the health and wellness of future generations.
Physical activity among children should not be allowed to wane. As Broderick, Winter, and Allan (2006) remarked, "Sport and physical activity are important in childhood for optimising bone mass and reducing obesity and insulin resistance."
Coupling the lack of physical activity with the prevalence of junk food, excess sugar and fats in the diet, one can expect this trend to produce a target segment of the world population having type 2 diabetes.
Obesity has become widespread among both adults and children in the United States. The prevalence of overweight and obese children has increased from 15% in 1971 to more than 30% in 2000.
Does obesity follow ethnicity?
There are large disparities in the childhood overweight situation in the Los Angeles County in California. One report published in January, 2006, shows children of Latin American decent leading the "Overweight" competition in that western US state.
It shows the childhood obesity problem divided among ethnic groups like this:
* 19.4% ... African Americans (or Blacks)
* 17.6% ... American Indians
* 11.9% ... Asians
* 25.2% ... Latinos
* 20.0% ... Pacific Islanders
* 13.0% ... whites
One can surmise that this may be typical of the general US population. I suppose that any variation in this distribution may simply follow the demographic make-up of respective localities.
But I remember reading an article where the writer was ranting about how Caucasians and Latin Americans viewed the definition of overweight or being "fat" differently.
According to article, the meaning of overweight differs from one culture to the other. Apparently, Whites like to be "movie-star-thin" but Latinos like the "curves." In other words, thin looks sick to Latinos and curves look "fat" to whites.
What childhood obesity statistics predict about diabetes
Whatever the view one takes regarding having bodily curves or being bodily thin, the real issue is health. How do the curves or the thins relate to lifestyle conditions like diabetes and hypertension?
One of the startling realities I came across as I looked at some childhood obesity statistics was this sentence from a research articles: "Sports participation among children is declining."
1. Children who are "not thin" and have lots of "curves", in other words, who are considered obese or overweight **and** are are not physically active, have significant odds of being type 2 diabetics before they even become adults.
2. Children who are thin, i.e. are not considered obese or overweight, **but** who are not physically active, can become overweight and have the same fate as those who are already overweight or obese.
Children especially need proper diet and physical exercise
With these areas of our lives being neglected everyday, we can expect the childhood obesity statistics to continue to point towards a grim future for the health and wellness of future generations.
Physical activity among children should not be allowed to wane. As Broderick, Winter, and Allan (2006) remarked, "Sport and physical activity are important in childhood for optimising bone mass and reducing obesity and insulin resistance."
Coupling the lack of physical activity with the prevalence of junk food, excess sugar and fats in the diet, one can expect this trend to produce a target segment of the world population having type 2 diabetes.
Obesity Statistics And What This Obesity Epidemic Is Doing To Us
We are a fat country! Adults are overweight and we are making our children fatter than ever. Sadly, these obese children tend to become obese adults.
* In 1980 the national average for adult obesity was 15% of the population and in 1991, no state had an adult obesity rate above 20%.
* By 2010 - 38 states had adult obesity rates above 25 percent and for 28 of the states there was an increase in the level of obesity. The rest maintained tier high level [except for Washington, D.C., which had the only decline in obesity.]
* And in the same timeframe [since 1980] childhood obesity rates in the U.S. have more than doubled.
We are fat and getting fatter!
According the CDC [Center for Disease Control] these are the definitions of overweight and obese:
For adults, overweight and obesity ranges are determined by using weight and height to calculate a number called the "body mass index" (BMI). BMI is used because, for most people, it correlates with their amount of body fat. * An adult who has a BMI between 25 and 29.9 is considered overweight. * An adult who has a BMI of 30 or higher is considered obese.
You can find many BMI calculators online by searching for the term.
What is obesity doing to us?
* Obesity leads to many illnesses
* Obesity makes many illnesses worse
* Childhood obesity is a leading cause of young children having heart problems and diabetes - once considered diseases of adulthood
* Obesity leads to an increase in healthcare costs for everyone
We have an obesity epidemic and we need to do something to curtail the situation but the most typical solutions pushed are the various diets, diet pills and surgery.
Diets do not usually work because if your body is starved it holds onto every gram of fat as that is the way the body is designed to work. Our body needs an amount of fat to work and - yes - it IS possible to do this in moderation.
Our body is smart - it knows what it needs - but our food is no longer nutritious and so we tend then to eat more and more "foods" because we do not understand which nutrient our body is needing. And many of the "foods" are filled with chemicals.
Yet - no matter how much, or how little, we eat - if we do not provide our body with the needed nutrient or nutrients - all we are doing is adding calories.
Our body is pretty smart but it has been fooled by the alleged "foods" we eat and my guess is that it has a harder time knowing what it truly needs in terms of nutrition. That's why we now need to take supplements to make up for what's not in our food anymore. And who knows, it may just help with the obesity epidemic.
From Lynn Dorman, Ph.D. who is 70+ and has, for many decades, advocated for good nutrition and food supplements - except now she is not considered weird for saying these things.
* In 1980 the national average for adult obesity was 15% of the population and in 1991, no state had an adult obesity rate above 20%.
* By 2010 - 38 states had adult obesity rates above 25 percent and for 28 of the states there was an increase in the level of obesity. The rest maintained tier high level [except for Washington, D.C., which had the only decline in obesity.]
* And in the same timeframe [since 1980] childhood obesity rates in the U.S. have more than doubled.
We are fat and getting fatter!
According the CDC [Center for Disease Control] these are the definitions of overweight and obese:
For adults, overweight and obesity ranges are determined by using weight and height to calculate a number called the "body mass index" (BMI). BMI is used because, for most people, it correlates with their amount of body fat. * An adult who has a BMI between 25 and 29.9 is considered overweight. * An adult who has a BMI of 30 or higher is considered obese.
You can find many BMI calculators online by searching for the term.
What is obesity doing to us?
* Obesity leads to many illnesses
* Obesity makes many illnesses worse
* Childhood obesity is a leading cause of young children having heart problems and diabetes - once considered diseases of adulthood
* Obesity leads to an increase in healthcare costs for everyone
We have an obesity epidemic and we need to do something to curtail the situation but the most typical solutions pushed are the various diets, diet pills and surgery.
Diets do not usually work because if your body is starved it holds onto every gram of fat as that is the way the body is designed to work. Our body needs an amount of fat to work and - yes - it IS possible to do this in moderation.
Our body is smart - it knows what it needs - but our food is no longer nutritious and so we tend then to eat more and more "foods" because we do not understand which nutrient our body is needing. And many of the "foods" are filled with chemicals.
Yet - no matter how much, or how little, we eat - if we do not provide our body with the needed nutrient or nutrients - all we are doing is adding calories.
Our body is pretty smart but it has been fooled by the alleged "foods" we eat and my guess is that it has a harder time knowing what it truly needs in terms of nutrition. That's why we now need to take supplements to make up for what's not in our food anymore. And who knows, it may just help with the obesity epidemic.
From Lynn Dorman, Ph.D. who is 70+ and has, for many decades, advocated for good nutrition and food supplements - except now she is not considered weird for saying these things.
Obesity Statistics - The Facts Presented by Modern Research on Obesity
Modern research on obesity presents us with obesity statistics that are simply mind-blowing. Obesity in America is at epidemic levels and it is far past time to begin addressing this life-threatening issue.
The causes of obesity are almost always the same:
* Overconsumption and other improper eating habits;
* Eating foods that offer no nutrition;
* Failing to remain physically active;
All other factors for obesity and being overweight really are negligible when compared to the core causes of obesity listed above. Along with the outrageous obesity statistics, the levels of obesity diseases are also at all time highs.
Obesity diseases account for almost every known disease including:
* Diabetes;
* Coronary heart disease;
* Myocardial infarctions;
* Strokes;
* Kidney failure;
* Liver disease;
* Cancer;
* Arthritis;
* Atherosclerosis;
* Hypertension;
* And so many more...
Here are some of the shocking obesity statistics that we must begin to reverse through proper eating habits, healthy food intake choices and daily physical exercise:
* Over 58 million Americans are overweight;
* Over 40 million Americans are obese;
* Over 3 million Americans are morbidly obese;
* More than 80% of Americans do not engage in adequate physical activity;
* More than one quarter of all Americans are considered to be "completely sedentary";
* In adults between 30 and 40 years old, there has been greater than 78% increase in Type II diabetes cases since 1990;
More obesity statistics to consider:
* More than 85 percent of all diabetes cases are due to obesity and being overweight;
* More than 70% of all heart-related disease is heavily correlated with being overweight and/or obese;
* Almost 45% of all breast and colon cancer cases are heavily related to obesity and/or being overweight;
* More than 30% of all gall bladder operations are caused by obesity and/or being overweight;
* More than one quarter of all obese people have hypertension (high blood pressure);
Childhood obesity statistics:
* Only 4 percent of children were considered obese in 1982. Now, more than 30% are.
* More than one quarter of all obese children are showing symptoms of the development of Type 2 diabetes mellitus;
* Of those children developing Type II diabetes, more than 60 percent of them are also showing one or more signs of cardiovascular disease;
* Our children are taught how and what to eat by us - their parents and advisors;
These obesity statistics are developed by professional health organizations and research universities. They are not to be taken lightly. These are epidemic numbers. Our children are dying. We are dying. Almost all of these health issues and diseases can be effectively reversed through the initiation of permanent lifestyle changes concerning what we eat, how much we eat, the manners in which we eat, the reasons we eat and our exercise levels. Obesity help is readily available from a number of professional sources. There is no great mystery involved. Protect your health and the health of your family starting today.
The causes of obesity are almost always the same:
* Overconsumption and other improper eating habits;
* Eating foods that offer no nutrition;
* Failing to remain physically active;
All other factors for obesity and being overweight really are negligible when compared to the core causes of obesity listed above. Along with the outrageous obesity statistics, the levels of obesity diseases are also at all time highs.
Obesity diseases account for almost every known disease including:
* Diabetes;
* Coronary heart disease;
* Myocardial infarctions;
* Strokes;
* Kidney failure;
* Liver disease;
* Cancer;
* Arthritis;
* Atherosclerosis;
* Hypertension;
* And so many more...
Here are some of the shocking obesity statistics that we must begin to reverse through proper eating habits, healthy food intake choices and daily physical exercise:
* Over 58 million Americans are overweight;
* Over 40 million Americans are obese;
* Over 3 million Americans are morbidly obese;
* More than 80% of Americans do not engage in adequate physical activity;
* More than one quarter of all Americans are considered to be "completely sedentary";
* In adults between 30 and 40 years old, there has been greater than 78% increase in Type II diabetes cases since 1990;
More obesity statistics to consider:
* More than 85 percent of all diabetes cases are due to obesity and being overweight;
* More than 70% of all heart-related disease is heavily correlated with being overweight and/or obese;
* Almost 45% of all breast and colon cancer cases are heavily related to obesity and/or being overweight;
* More than 30% of all gall bladder operations are caused by obesity and/or being overweight;
* More than one quarter of all obese people have hypertension (high blood pressure);
Childhood obesity statistics:
* Only 4 percent of children were considered obese in 1982. Now, more than 30% are.
* More than one quarter of all obese children are showing symptoms of the development of Type 2 diabetes mellitus;
* Of those children developing Type II diabetes, more than 60 percent of them are also showing one or more signs of cardiovascular disease;
* Our children are taught how and what to eat by us - their parents and advisors;
These obesity statistics are developed by professional health organizations and research universities. They are not to be taken lightly. These are epidemic numbers. Our children are dying. We are dying. Almost all of these health issues and diseases can be effectively reversed through the initiation of permanent lifestyle changes concerning what we eat, how much we eat, the manners in which we eat, the reasons we eat and our exercise levels. Obesity help is readily available from a number of professional sources. There is no great mystery involved. Protect your health and the health of your family starting today.
Thursday, November 3, 2011
Defining Child Abuse
Children have always been considered the leaders of tomorrow because the children that are growing up now are going to be the next politicians and leaders of this country for us. Abusing a child can be one of the worst things you can do to a child. Child abuse cases can become complicated quickly if you don't know all the details of what defines child abuse. If you are involved in a child abuse case, you need an Appleton criminal lawyer that is well experienced to handle your case.
Child abuse is labeled as any physical, psychological, or sexual mistreatment of a child of any kind. Although this may seem like a broad definition, there are many cases that have helped to define the boundaries of what is and is not considered to be a form of child abuse. Statistics have proven that most child abuse that happens with children happens inside the home of the child. The abuser can be anyone ranging from the babysitter, to the siblings, to the parents of the child.
With a child that is being abused, it can be hard to tell if it truly is child abuse or if the child just has some type of behavioral problems. Defining child abuse through a child's behavior can be one of the hardest things to accomplish because there will be a lot of shady activity from whoever the abuser might be. There are many clues that might be a good way to help you to understand what type of situation that the child is involved in. For some children that are being abused it can be a hard process to find out exactly what might be happening behind closed doors.
Sexual abuse, for the most part, is fairly self explanatory. Sexual abuse is any inappropriate touching, fondling, penetration, or violation of a child's privacy. Emotional or psychological abuse is sometimes considered to be one of the worst types of abuse that you could do to a child. Emotional abuse can leave scars that you can't see, but that will affect the child for many years in the future. Some children who were emotionally abused never fully recover from one or more events as traumatizing as that. Physical abuse is the last type of abuse which is defined as any violent behavior toward a child. This includes beating, hitting, burning, shaking, and many more. Physical child abuse usually leaves marks and scars on the child so it is usually easier for someone to detect on a child.
Child abuse is labeled as any physical, psychological, or sexual mistreatment of a child of any kind. Although this may seem like a broad definition, there are many cases that have helped to define the boundaries of what is and is not considered to be a form of child abuse. Statistics have proven that most child abuse that happens with children happens inside the home of the child. The abuser can be anyone ranging from the babysitter, to the siblings, to the parents of the child.
With a child that is being abused, it can be hard to tell if it truly is child abuse or if the child just has some type of behavioral problems. Defining child abuse through a child's behavior can be one of the hardest things to accomplish because there will be a lot of shady activity from whoever the abuser might be. There are many clues that might be a good way to help you to understand what type of situation that the child is involved in. For some children that are being abused it can be a hard process to find out exactly what might be happening behind closed doors.
Sexual abuse, for the most part, is fairly self explanatory. Sexual abuse is any inappropriate touching, fondling, penetration, or violation of a child's privacy. Emotional or psychological abuse is sometimes considered to be one of the worst types of abuse that you could do to a child. Emotional abuse can leave scars that you can't see, but that will affect the child for many years in the future. Some children who were emotionally abused never fully recover from one or more events as traumatizing as that. Physical abuse is the last type of abuse which is defined as any violent behavior toward a child. This includes beating, hitting, burning, shaking, and many more. Physical child abuse usually leaves marks and scars on the child so it is usually easier for someone to detect on a child.
Child Abuse Is on the Decline - Now What?
An annual report recently released by the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services showed that the rates of child abuse and child neglect have declined for the third year in a row. Another study confirmed a continued decline in the rate of child sexual abuse, which is now roughly half what it was 20 years ago.*
Child abuse is on the decline. Obviously, we need to continue the downward trend and do even more to protect the millions of children who still need our help.
So how did we get here, and how do we keep it going?
For many, many years, the statistics on prevalence of child abuse were shocking. It seemed like nothing could help and child abuse was just a fact of life. But the alarming situation then became a rallying point for addressing the overwhelming incidence of child abuse in the U.S. and things began to change.
When people really understood that the numbers meant that children were suffering, they took notice. They decided it is simply not okay for children in our country to suffer any kind of child maltreatment - child sexual abuse, child physical abuse, or child neglect. The resulting sense of urgency demanded that greater attention be paid to these issues on the local, state, and national levels.
Child Advocacy Centers and countless other initiatives to address and prevent child abuse in all forms were implemented all over the country and made significant progress. Communities put programs in place, governments provided funding, and concerned people got involved.
And the needle began to move.
Overall, those affected by abuse now receive much better care and the prevalence of child abuse is unquestionably lower. In other words -- the things we are doing are working. But there is still much work to be done at every level of our communities.
The national reports and numerous additional points of data prove undeniably that decades of coordinated efforts and concentrated resources have brought down the rate of child abuse and neglect.
Why? Because of dedication of caring professionals who work in the prevention and response field. Because of the generosity of donors to make a difference in communities all over the country. Because of foresight in national, state, and local governments to provide funding for programs that strengthen families and protect the next generation.
So? We need to celebrate the accomplishments. We have developed programs that work. Children all over the country are being protected from unspeakable abuse and neglect.
And? Staying the course is more important than ever. We must increase our investment in these efforts and bring the numbers down even more. There are children who still need our help, programs that still need our support, and initiatives that still need our determination.
Everyone has a role to play in efforts to end child abuse. We have the responsibility to secure a healthy and prosperous future for our communities and our nation. Each of us can help in simple ways.
How? We can talk to our friends and colleagues. We can ask our local political, business, and religious leaders what they can do to decrease child abuse. We can support programs already in our local communities.
Most importantly, we can keep the things going that have proven to be effective.
Child abuse is on the decline. Obviously, we need to continue the downward trend and do even more to protect the millions of children who still need our help.
So how did we get here, and how do we keep it going?
For many, many years, the statistics on prevalence of child abuse were shocking. It seemed like nothing could help and child abuse was just a fact of life. But the alarming situation then became a rallying point for addressing the overwhelming incidence of child abuse in the U.S. and things began to change.
When people really understood that the numbers meant that children were suffering, they took notice. They decided it is simply not okay for children in our country to suffer any kind of child maltreatment - child sexual abuse, child physical abuse, or child neglect. The resulting sense of urgency demanded that greater attention be paid to these issues on the local, state, and national levels.
Child Advocacy Centers and countless other initiatives to address and prevent child abuse in all forms were implemented all over the country and made significant progress. Communities put programs in place, governments provided funding, and concerned people got involved.
And the needle began to move.
Overall, those affected by abuse now receive much better care and the prevalence of child abuse is unquestionably lower. In other words -- the things we are doing are working. But there is still much work to be done at every level of our communities.
The national reports and numerous additional points of data prove undeniably that decades of coordinated efforts and concentrated resources have brought down the rate of child abuse and neglect.
Why? Because of dedication of caring professionals who work in the prevention and response field. Because of the generosity of donors to make a difference in communities all over the country. Because of foresight in national, state, and local governments to provide funding for programs that strengthen families and protect the next generation.
So? We need to celebrate the accomplishments. We have developed programs that work. Children all over the country are being protected from unspeakable abuse and neglect.
And? Staying the course is more important than ever. We must increase our investment in these efforts and bring the numbers down even more. There are children who still need our help, programs that still need our support, and initiatives that still need our determination.
Everyone has a role to play in efforts to end child abuse. We have the responsibility to secure a healthy and prosperous future for our communities and our nation. Each of us can help in simple ways.
How? We can talk to our friends and colleagues. We can ask our local political, business, and religious leaders what they can do to decrease child abuse. We can support programs already in our local communities.
Most importantly, we can keep the things going that have proven to be effective.
Child Abuse - Survey & Comments
Beyond cases reported to authorities, little knowledge exists on the types, amount, and effects of childhood victimization. Through a national survey of adolescents, researchers examined the prevalence of sexual assault, physical assault, physically abusive punishment, and witnessing an act of violence and subsequent effects on mental health, substance use, and delinquent behavior problems. Gender and racial/ethnic specific findings are translated into national estimates.
Research findings include (from the U.S. Department of Justice):
1. Rates of interpersonal violence and victimization of 12 to 17 year-olds in the United States were extremely high, and witnessing violence is considerably more common.
2. Black and native American adolescents were victimized more than whites, Hispanics, and Asians in each type of victimization. Much of the violence experienced by youths is perpetrated by peers or someone the victim knows well. Most sexual assaults (86 percent) and physical assaults (65 percent) went unreported.
3. A clear relationship exists between youth victimization and mental health problems and delinquent behavior. For example:
~ Negative outcomes in victims of sexual assault were three to five times the rate observed in non victims.
~ Girls who witnessed violence were nearly twice as likely as boys to experience post traumatic stress disorder.
This nationally representative sample does not include adolescents from homes without telephones and certain high-risk adolescents (i.e., those who were homeless or housed in jails, juvenile correctional facilities, or inpatient mental health treatment facilities).
These are disturbing statistics and are supported by the well known syndrome that rape cases go largely unreported. Many times, children are embarrassed to report abuse, especially sexual abuse, which allows the perpetrator more time to continue with the child (and others). The National Center for Child Abuse and Neglect estimates that there are almost one million children in the US that suffer life threatening physical violence each year.
Some parents believe that physical violence is a way of changing the child's behavior. They do not realize how much damage can be done to the child both physically and emotionally. Acting from "innocence," such parents can do irreparable harm to their own progeny.
It is essential that parents and family friends become aware of the abuse schemes that exist. That they observe any changes in the child's behavior. And, most importantly, is is absolutely necessary that parents be open with children and that children know they can be open with parents!
Research findings include (from the U.S. Department of Justice):
1. Rates of interpersonal violence and victimization of 12 to 17 year-olds in the United States were extremely high, and witnessing violence is considerably more common.
2. Black and native American adolescents were victimized more than whites, Hispanics, and Asians in each type of victimization. Much of the violence experienced by youths is perpetrated by peers or someone the victim knows well. Most sexual assaults (86 percent) and physical assaults (65 percent) went unreported.
3. A clear relationship exists between youth victimization and mental health problems and delinquent behavior. For example:
~ Negative outcomes in victims of sexual assault were three to five times the rate observed in non victims.
~ Girls who witnessed violence were nearly twice as likely as boys to experience post traumatic stress disorder.
This nationally representative sample does not include adolescents from homes without telephones and certain high-risk adolescents (i.e., those who were homeless or housed in jails, juvenile correctional facilities, or inpatient mental health treatment facilities).
These are disturbing statistics and are supported by the well known syndrome that rape cases go largely unreported. Many times, children are embarrassed to report abuse, especially sexual abuse, which allows the perpetrator more time to continue with the child (and others). The National Center for Child Abuse and Neglect estimates that there are almost one million children in the US that suffer life threatening physical violence each year.
Some parents believe that physical violence is a way of changing the child's behavior. They do not realize how much damage can be done to the child both physically and emotionally. Acting from "innocence," such parents can do irreparable harm to their own progeny.
It is essential that parents and family friends become aware of the abuse schemes that exist. That they observe any changes in the child's behavior. And, most importantly, is is absolutely necessary that parents be open with children and that children know they can be open with parents!
Sex Offender Profile
The existence of sexual feelings toward family members, friends or acquaintances does not signify a problem. However, the act of focusing on and then reinforcing these feelings create a compulsion to carry out sexual contact with another, including children and negates one's sense of discipline and self-control. Thus, forming an arousal pattern. To act on this arousal pattern and the impulse the person has created, the person insidiously justifies his/her behavior to him/herself.
According to Finkelhor (Finkelhor, 1984; Araji and Finkelhor, 1985) there are four components that contribute, in differing degrees and forms, to the development of a child molester's behavior. To explain the diversity of behavior of sexual abusers, there are four factors in a complementary process. These four factors are sexual arousal, emotional congruence, blockage, and disinhibition:
Sexual arousal: In order for an adult to be aroused by a child, there has frequently been cultural or familial conditioning to sexual activity with children: such as corporal punishment and/or sexual child abuse. The most recent study reveals approximately 50% of all sex offenders were victims of sexual assault (Smith & Israel, 1987; Johnson, 1988; Longo, 1982; Seabrook, 1990). 70% of child sex offenders have between 1 and 9 victims; at least 20% have 10 to 40 victims. Serial child sex offenders may have as many as 400 victims in a lifetime. Elliott, M., Browne, K., & Kilcoyne, J. (1995). Child sexual abuse prevention: What offenders tell us. Child Abuse & Neglect, 5, 579-594.
In my work with sex offenders in recovery the statistics reveal 85% of sex offenders were sexually abused as children. Furthermore, corporal punishment triggers sexual stimulation, thus inducing sexual arousal. As adults these corporal punishment and/or sexual abuse survivors use sexual contact to ward off the internal emotional pain caused by the sexual and/or physical punishment. It is a case of doing to others what was done to them. The acorn does not fall far from the tree. This explanation merely explains the behavior not condone it.
Accurate sexual child abuse statistics are difficult to obtain. Different definitions of sexual abuse and incest will result in different statistics. Self-reporting is only accurate if the victim accepts the same definition as defined by the researcher. Even more frustrating is the fact that many survivors do not remember their abuse.
Furthermore the controversy regarding the phenomenon of whether a person can 'forget' something as significant as sexual activity has long been debated. The Betrayal trauma theory has most accurately identified the child's experience. "[The] Betrayal trauma theory suggests that psychogenic amnesia is an adaptive response to childhood abuse. When a parent or other powerful figure violates a fundamental ethic of human relationships, victims may need to remain unaware of the trauma not to reduce suffering but rather to promote survival. Amnesia enables the child to maintain an attachment with a figure vital to survival, development and thriving." (E. Sue Blume, Secret Survivors)
Emotional congruence: There is comfort in relating to a child and satisfaction of emotional need through the abuse. This is apt to be due to arrested development through limited intelligence, immaturity or low self-esteem.
Blockage: Age appropriate sexual opportunities may be blocked by bad experiences with age appropriate adults, sexual dysfunction, limited social skills, or marital disturbance.
Disinhibition: The abuser may lose control through impulse control deficits, psychosis, alcohol, drugs, stress, or nonexistent family rules-coupled with sexual arousal conditioning.
Finkelhor suggests that examination of these factors can help explain why sexual abusers are predominately male. Rowan, Rowan, and Langelier (1981) studied 600 sex offender evaluations in New Hampshire and Vermont and found that in only nine cases (1.5 percent) was the perpetrator a woman. These nine incidents are reviewed in terms of Finkelhor's (1984) four-factor model. In five of the incidents studied, the abuse occurred in conjunction with a dominant male partner; in four, the woman acted independently. The histories of several of the women revealed a history of childhood abuse and all had serious psychological problems or limited intelligence. The victims of the four women who acted independently were male. Of the five women who acted in conjunction with a male, three victimized females, one victimized a male, and one victimized both a son and a daughter.
The authors concluded that none of these incidents were true paraphilics according to the DSM-llI-R but that the female sex offenders did fit the model proposed by Finkelhor. Understanding what motivates a person to abuse children sexually does NOT excuse him or her, or remove responsibility for the choices he or she has made.
Albeit the perpetrator (sex offender) was abused as a child, he/she is still responsible for his/her adult behavior and for the denial system that allows him/her to continue the abuse. The adult is responsible for protecting the welfare of children; therefore, the adult is responsible for protecting children even from him/herself if necessary.
According to Finkelhor (Finkelhor, 1984; Araji and Finkelhor, 1985) there are four components that contribute, in differing degrees and forms, to the development of a child molester's behavior. To explain the diversity of behavior of sexual abusers, there are four factors in a complementary process. These four factors are sexual arousal, emotional congruence, blockage, and disinhibition:
Sexual arousal: In order for an adult to be aroused by a child, there has frequently been cultural or familial conditioning to sexual activity with children: such as corporal punishment and/or sexual child abuse. The most recent study reveals approximately 50% of all sex offenders were victims of sexual assault (Smith & Israel, 1987; Johnson, 1988; Longo, 1982; Seabrook, 1990). 70% of child sex offenders have between 1 and 9 victims; at least 20% have 10 to 40 victims. Serial child sex offenders may have as many as 400 victims in a lifetime. Elliott, M., Browne, K., & Kilcoyne, J. (1995). Child sexual abuse prevention: What offenders tell us. Child Abuse & Neglect, 5, 579-594.
In my work with sex offenders in recovery the statistics reveal 85% of sex offenders were sexually abused as children. Furthermore, corporal punishment triggers sexual stimulation, thus inducing sexual arousal. As adults these corporal punishment and/or sexual abuse survivors use sexual contact to ward off the internal emotional pain caused by the sexual and/or physical punishment. It is a case of doing to others what was done to them. The acorn does not fall far from the tree. This explanation merely explains the behavior not condone it.
Accurate sexual child abuse statistics are difficult to obtain. Different definitions of sexual abuse and incest will result in different statistics. Self-reporting is only accurate if the victim accepts the same definition as defined by the researcher. Even more frustrating is the fact that many survivors do not remember their abuse.
Furthermore the controversy regarding the phenomenon of whether a person can 'forget' something as significant as sexual activity has long been debated. The Betrayal trauma theory has most accurately identified the child's experience. "[The] Betrayal trauma theory suggests that psychogenic amnesia is an adaptive response to childhood abuse. When a parent or other powerful figure violates a fundamental ethic of human relationships, victims may need to remain unaware of the trauma not to reduce suffering but rather to promote survival. Amnesia enables the child to maintain an attachment with a figure vital to survival, development and thriving." (E. Sue Blume, Secret Survivors)
Emotional congruence: There is comfort in relating to a child and satisfaction of emotional need through the abuse. This is apt to be due to arrested development through limited intelligence, immaturity or low self-esteem.
Blockage: Age appropriate sexual opportunities may be blocked by bad experiences with age appropriate adults, sexual dysfunction, limited social skills, or marital disturbance.
Disinhibition: The abuser may lose control through impulse control deficits, psychosis, alcohol, drugs, stress, or nonexistent family rules-coupled with sexual arousal conditioning.
Finkelhor suggests that examination of these factors can help explain why sexual abusers are predominately male. Rowan, Rowan, and Langelier (1981) studied 600 sex offender evaluations in New Hampshire and Vermont and found that in only nine cases (1.5 percent) was the perpetrator a woman. These nine incidents are reviewed in terms of Finkelhor's (1984) four-factor model. In five of the incidents studied, the abuse occurred in conjunction with a dominant male partner; in four, the woman acted independently. The histories of several of the women revealed a history of childhood abuse and all had serious psychological problems or limited intelligence. The victims of the four women who acted independently were male. Of the five women who acted in conjunction with a male, three victimized females, one victimized a male, and one victimized both a son and a daughter.
The authors concluded that none of these incidents were true paraphilics according to the DSM-llI-R but that the female sex offenders did fit the model proposed by Finkelhor. Understanding what motivates a person to abuse children sexually does NOT excuse him or her, or remove responsibility for the choices he or she has made.
Albeit the perpetrator (sex offender) was abused as a child, he/she is still responsible for his/her adult behavior and for the denial system that allows him/her to continue the abuse. The adult is responsible for protecting the welfare of children; therefore, the adult is responsible for protecting children even from him/herself if necessary.
Statistics on Child Abuse - The Statistics and People You Need to Know For Your Healing
You can find tons of bleak statistics on child abuse all over the Internet. The National Child Abuse and Neglect Data System (NCANDS) reported a rate of 2.04 children per 100,000 children who died from abuse or neglect in 2006. One statistic from the Journal of the American Medical Association (JAMA) estimates more than 2 million cases of child abuse and neglect are reported each year in the United States. Another JAMA statistic estimates 150,000 to 200,000 new cases of sexual abuse occur each year in the United States alone.
What is hard to find are stories and statistics about overcoming the odds. Who has healed from the wounds of child abuse and gone on to live happy and fulfilling lives? Is it possible to live an extraordinary life after enduring tremendous hardship? The answer is yes, and here are some inspiring facts and people that prove it.
The Encouraging Statistics
There was a study of 400 accomplished people done by psychologists Victor and Mildred Goertzel published in the 1960s. They tried to see if there was a common psychological thread that wound its way through the lives of "great" people. What kind of conditions did they grow up in? What did they overcome on their way to greatness?
The Goertzels found that of the 400 studied, only 14.5% of them came from trouble-free homes. 75% of the so-called greats came from troubled conditions such as poverty, broken homes, neglectful/dominating parents, financial instability, as well as other non-abusive factors. More than 25% of these achievers overcame some kind of handicap such as blindness (think Helen Keller), deafness, and/or other physical handicaps which motivated them to succeed in a big way.
So it seems fair to say that a majority of these successful people had to overcome hardships in order to get where they were, and these included hardships such as child abuse and a broken home.
The People
The Billionaire
Would you guess that the richest African-American woman of the 20th century, Academy Award nominated actress, and someone who was once the world's only black billionaire was molested by a relative as a little girl? She also overcame racial prejudice while growing up in the rural South and the effects of a broken home. When she was six, she was so poor she wore dresses made of potato sacks, enduring the cruel taunts of other children. This famous person is Oprah Winfrey, and she is someone who truly overcame the odds.
The Musician
This musician was awarded the Grammy Lifetime Achievement Award in 1972 because of outstanding contributions of artistic significance to the field of recording. He was noted for his significant influence on jazz and popular music in general. You may have heard his distinct, gravelly voice on such pop hits as "What A Wonderful World", featured in the movie Good Morning, Vietnam. With this kind of accomplishment under his belt, you may not think that he was the son of an alcoholic father who abandoned the family when he was just a baby. You may also not realize his mother contributed to the unstable home life by leaving him and his sister in the care of relatives until he was five. This famous person is Louis Armstrong, and is another person who overcame the odds.
Now you might say that the only reason Oprah and Louis achieved so much was because they had tremendous amounts of talent which contributed to their success. But you would be ignoring the most important factor. You would be ignoring the one trait that Oprah, Louis, and the rest of the 400 all had in common which led to their success.
The good news is if you don't have it, you can develop it. You can give yourself the trait that all the accomplished people in the Goertzel study had which led to their eventual success.
What is hard to find are stories and statistics about overcoming the odds. Who has healed from the wounds of child abuse and gone on to live happy and fulfilling lives? Is it possible to live an extraordinary life after enduring tremendous hardship? The answer is yes, and here are some inspiring facts and people that prove it.
The Encouraging Statistics
There was a study of 400 accomplished people done by psychologists Victor and Mildred Goertzel published in the 1960s. They tried to see if there was a common psychological thread that wound its way through the lives of "great" people. What kind of conditions did they grow up in? What did they overcome on their way to greatness?
The Goertzels found that of the 400 studied, only 14.5% of them came from trouble-free homes. 75% of the so-called greats came from troubled conditions such as poverty, broken homes, neglectful/dominating parents, financial instability, as well as other non-abusive factors. More than 25% of these achievers overcame some kind of handicap such as blindness (think Helen Keller), deafness, and/or other physical handicaps which motivated them to succeed in a big way.
So it seems fair to say that a majority of these successful people had to overcome hardships in order to get where they were, and these included hardships such as child abuse and a broken home.
The People
The Billionaire
Would you guess that the richest African-American woman of the 20th century, Academy Award nominated actress, and someone who was once the world's only black billionaire was molested by a relative as a little girl? She also overcame racial prejudice while growing up in the rural South and the effects of a broken home. When she was six, she was so poor she wore dresses made of potato sacks, enduring the cruel taunts of other children. This famous person is Oprah Winfrey, and she is someone who truly overcame the odds.
The Musician
This musician was awarded the Grammy Lifetime Achievement Award in 1972 because of outstanding contributions of artistic significance to the field of recording. He was noted for his significant influence on jazz and popular music in general. You may have heard his distinct, gravelly voice on such pop hits as "What A Wonderful World", featured in the movie Good Morning, Vietnam. With this kind of accomplishment under his belt, you may not think that he was the son of an alcoholic father who abandoned the family when he was just a baby. You may also not realize his mother contributed to the unstable home life by leaving him and his sister in the care of relatives until he was five. This famous person is Louis Armstrong, and is another person who overcame the odds.
Now you might say that the only reason Oprah and Louis achieved so much was because they had tremendous amounts of talent which contributed to their success. But you would be ignoring the most important factor. You would be ignoring the one trait that Oprah, Louis, and the rest of the 400 all had in common which led to their success.
The good news is if you don't have it, you can develop it. You can give yourself the trait that all the accomplished people in the Goertzel study had which led to their eventual success.
Child Sexual Abuse Rates and Statistics
The problem of child abuse in the United States is widespread. In fact, every State in this country has had a fair share of cases of children and teens being abused and exploited sexually, physically, or emotionally. Though many Americans think that the problem itself is now at a certain stage where parents may need to be more concerned about their kids, there are a few others who think otherwise. They believe that a lot of the cases are merely accusations and only a few are substantiated and validated.
Obviously though, numbers don't lie. By looking at the statistics of the different aspects of child abuse, one will realize how potent and imminent this threat is for our children.
- According to Child Help, there were over three million reported cases of child abuse in the United States alone. This number does not say whether most were just accusations or were proven. Nonetheless, it does not deny the fact that the issue is rampant in the whole country.
- According to the Centers for Disease and Control and Prevention, 1 in 4 girls and 1 in 6 boys are sexually abused before the age of 18.
- With regards to the offender, almost 39% of the victims are abused by family members and 56% are abused by an acquaintance of the child or family. Only 5% are abused by a stranger. (Study by Howard N. Snyder, National Center for Juvenile Justice, 2000)
While we falsely link the exploitation and abuse of children to socioeconomic status and the existence of poverty, statistics say otherwise. In reality, even kids from rich and well-to-do neighborhoods can become victims chiefly through technology channels like mobile phone communication and internet. Furthermore, those who have experienced abuse may also tend to build a cycle by abusing others in the future or perhaps become violent individuals. However, most victims do not go on to become offenders.
- More than half or roughly 60% of drug rehabilitation patients have confessed of being abused during their childhood. This entails that drug and alcohol use is a very common way for victims to escape and forget their experience.
- Thirty percent of women inmates in the country reported that they have been sexually or physically abused during their childhood or teenage years.
Finally, by making your own research and study on the frequency of child abuse cases in the United States, you will find out that numbers may vary. But one thing is for sure - every independent or government sanctioned survey or study will conclude that more and more children are exposed and vulnerable to the crime. Though there has been a significant increase in apprehending and convicting sex offenders and abusers, the problem in its entirety is still unsolved. The reason why numbers and statistics are shown by concerned groups and individuals is because our children are always at a constant risk of being abused or exploited by anyone. And our objective is of course to eliminate this risk.
Obviously though, numbers don't lie. By looking at the statistics of the different aspects of child abuse, one will realize how potent and imminent this threat is for our children.
- According to Child Help, there were over three million reported cases of child abuse in the United States alone. This number does not say whether most were just accusations or were proven. Nonetheless, it does not deny the fact that the issue is rampant in the whole country.
- According to the Centers for Disease and Control and Prevention, 1 in 4 girls and 1 in 6 boys are sexually abused before the age of 18.
- With regards to the offender, almost 39% of the victims are abused by family members and 56% are abused by an acquaintance of the child or family. Only 5% are abused by a stranger. (Study by Howard N. Snyder, National Center for Juvenile Justice, 2000)
While we falsely link the exploitation and abuse of children to socioeconomic status and the existence of poverty, statistics say otherwise. In reality, even kids from rich and well-to-do neighborhoods can become victims chiefly through technology channels like mobile phone communication and internet. Furthermore, those who have experienced abuse may also tend to build a cycle by abusing others in the future or perhaps become violent individuals. However, most victims do not go on to become offenders.
- More than half or roughly 60% of drug rehabilitation patients have confessed of being abused during their childhood. This entails that drug and alcohol use is a very common way for victims to escape and forget their experience.
- Thirty percent of women inmates in the country reported that they have been sexually or physically abused during their childhood or teenage years.
Finally, by making your own research and study on the frequency of child abuse cases in the United States, you will find out that numbers may vary. But one thing is for sure - every independent or government sanctioned survey or study will conclude that more and more children are exposed and vulnerable to the crime. Though there has been a significant increase in apprehending and convicting sex offenders and abusers, the problem in its entirety is still unsolved. The reason why numbers and statistics are shown by concerned groups and individuals is because our children are always at a constant risk of being abused or exploited by anyone. And our objective is of course to eliminate this risk.
Can Child Abuse Statistics Really Be Trusted?
One of the most terrible issues that happen often in this world is youngster abuse. Have you seen the latest little one abuse statistics? Many people most likely wonder why these statistics are so high. Well, first off, it is crucial to totally understand that it is under no circumstances the fault of the children. Whereas some adults and parents declare this, it's merely not the case. Child abuse sometimes begins in the residence and it is the fault of the parents. The actual fact is that some adults have been merely not meant to be dad and mom and children should never suffer for it.
On-line you may easily purchase the most recent youngster abuse statistics. Whereas they might not make you happy, they're part of our reality nonetheless. Let's talk about the most typical reasons for little one abuse. To begin with, most abusers had been abused themselves. Some have been abused sexually and others were abused by their dad and mom in a violent fashion. Naturally this makes the child develop in to an abuser typically as well. In other instances, young parents that had no desire to have a baby turn out to be abusive as a result of they blame the child for their troubles. This is terrible however widespread in our society. And eventually, quite a lot of dad and mom and guardians undertake abusive tendencies after abusing drugs and/or alcohol. The secret is to lower these little one abuse statistics by breaking the cycle. Hold youngsters away from violence and abuse so they do not flip into abusers themselves.
A wonderful book to make the most of is Gavin De Becker's, "Protecting the Gift." This ebook talks in regards to the roots of violence and where it comes from. Not only will it train you about child abuse statistics, but it surely additionally informs you of how one can prevent little one abuse within the home and handle other families where you suppose baby abuse could also be occurring. Whatever you do, do not stay in the dark about baby abuse or any kind of abuse for that matter. This solves nothing! The more you know and perceive about child abuse statistics and where it stems from, the higher off you'll be.
On-line you may easily purchase the most recent youngster abuse statistics. Whereas they might not make you happy, they're part of our reality nonetheless. Let's talk about the most typical reasons for little one abuse. To begin with, most abusers had been abused themselves. Some have been abused sexually and others were abused by their dad and mom in a violent fashion. Naturally this makes the child develop in to an abuser typically as well. In other instances, young parents that had no desire to have a baby turn out to be abusive as a result of they blame the child for their troubles. This is terrible however widespread in our society. And eventually, quite a lot of dad and mom and guardians undertake abusive tendencies after abusing drugs and/or alcohol. The secret is to lower these little one abuse statistics by breaking the cycle. Hold youngsters away from violence and abuse so they do not flip into abusers themselves.
A wonderful book to make the most of is Gavin De Becker's, "Protecting the Gift." This ebook talks in regards to the roots of violence and where it comes from. Not only will it train you about child abuse statistics, but it surely additionally informs you of how one can prevent little one abuse within the home and handle other families where you suppose baby abuse could also be occurring. Whatever you do, do not stay in the dark about baby abuse or any kind of abuse for that matter. This solves nothing! The more you know and perceive about child abuse statistics and where it stems from, the higher off you'll be.
What Can We Learn From National Child Abuse Statistics?
There is much in the news today about what and when children should be taught about sex. I would propose that we are losing sight of the difference between teaching about the "sexual experience" and the concept of "good touch/bad touch".
Having worked in schools as teacher, counselor and administrator for many years, I worked with a lot of children and their parents. When I began teaching, we were made aware of, and directed to report, children who were physically and emotionally abused, but not so aware, or perhaps more uncomfortable talking about, sexual abuse. "Good touch/bad touch" was a long way from being discussed.
Do I believe that parents have the right and responsibility to teach their children about sex and share their values? Absolutely. But we are assuming that all children are at greater risk with people they do not know. We teach them about "stranger danger" and think they are protected. And there are many children who do not even get that much information.
Being a researcher, I decided to look up data on the issue of child abuse in the United States, with particular attention to the issue of sexual abuse of children. One of the articles I found was National Child Abuse Statistics. The statistics are alarming and depressing, and one thing that struck me as problematic is the one that stated "of the reported rapes of children under 12 years old, 90% of the victims knew the perpetrator." If children are only told about "stranger danger" what are they supposed to believe when someone they know abuses them?
Somehow we have got to figure out a way to talk with all children, boys and girls, about "good touch/bad touch", their right to say "no", and listen to them when they report that something has happened to them. Until we stop bickering about what is "right" and who does what and get them the information they need and the skills to take better care of themselves, we are doing many children a grievous disservice.
Having worked in schools as teacher, counselor and administrator for many years, I worked with a lot of children and their parents. When I began teaching, we were made aware of, and directed to report, children who were physically and emotionally abused, but not so aware, or perhaps more uncomfortable talking about, sexual abuse. "Good touch/bad touch" was a long way from being discussed.
Do I believe that parents have the right and responsibility to teach their children about sex and share their values? Absolutely. But we are assuming that all children are at greater risk with people they do not know. We teach them about "stranger danger" and think they are protected. And there are many children who do not even get that much information.
Being a researcher, I decided to look up data on the issue of child abuse in the United States, with particular attention to the issue of sexual abuse of children. One of the articles I found was National Child Abuse Statistics. The statistics are alarming and depressing, and one thing that struck me as problematic is the one that stated "of the reported rapes of children under 12 years old, 90% of the victims knew the perpetrator." If children are only told about "stranger danger" what are they supposed to believe when someone they know abuses them?
Somehow we have got to figure out a way to talk with all children, boys and girls, about "good touch/bad touch", their right to say "no", and listen to them when they report that something has happened to them. Until we stop bickering about what is "right" and who does what and get them the information they need and the skills to take better care of themselves, we are doing many children a grievous disservice.
Child Abuse Statistics - This May Shock You
The million-dollar-question would be: How many children are abused in the United States?
It has been pointed out that the incidence of child abuse and neglect have nominally decreased over the recent years, more than 1.25 million; that brings it to 1 out of every 58 children in the United States, were abused back in the year 2006. This staggering number has been proven solidly over the years after that.
61%, or more than half of the children (a total of 771,700) were victimized by neglect. This means that a parent or guardian failed to provide for the child's basic needs. This includes but is not limited to the more obvious ones which are food, shelter, clothing, and education. The three main facets of neglect include education neglect (360,500 children), physical neglect (295,300 children), and emotional neglect (193,400 children).
Around 44% of this statistics are comprised of children who were victimized by abuse (553,300 children). This includes physical abuse (325,000 children), sexual abuse (135,000 children), and emotional abuse (145,500 children). A staggering average of nearly four children die each day as a result of child abuse or neglect; based on a study conducted back in year 2007. That comes up with a disturbing number of 1,760 children.
So the question here is: "Who is more likely to be abused or neglected among these children?" Truth is, no group of children is immune from being victimized by abuse or neglect. Although girls are oftentimes more prone to physical abuse compared to boys, boys aren't necessarily ruled out of the equation altogether. For all other types of abuse or neglect, the statistics for the number of boys and girls victimized are apparently equal.
Children coming from all races, ethnicities, or cultural backgrounds can be victims of child abuse. As a matter of fact, back in year 2007, nearly one-half of all victims of child abuse and neglect where Caucasian (46.1%), one-fifth where African-American (21.7%), and one-fifth were Hispanic (20.8%).
Although it has been commonly observed that children of all ages may experience abuse or neglect, it is usually the youngest children which are most vulnerable and susceptible, with almost 32% of the children victimized with abuse or neglect being at the age of four years and below.
Back in year 2007, more than half (57%) of all child abuse cases and reports made to CPS agencies came from professionals who came in contact with the child concerned; this includes but are not limited to teachers, lawyers, police officers, and even social workers. This is mainly because many of these professionals are required by law to report suspected abuse or neglect. But the big question there is what happens to the rest who don't fall under the spectrum of the said statistics?
Many reports (which make up 26 %) came from nonprofessional sources, such as parents, other relatives, friends and neighbors. Anonymous reports have also been counted to make up 7% of all reports in the year 2007.
It should be considered as a cause of great value to know and to be able to identify the signs of child abuse and how to manage and report it. Everyone should be made to understand how important it is to share the responsibility to help keep the children safe and to take the necessary precautions and steps to prevent child abuse from occurring in the first place.
It has been pointed out that the incidence of child abuse and neglect have nominally decreased over the recent years, more than 1.25 million; that brings it to 1 out of every 58 children in the United States, were abused back in the year 2006. This staggering number has been proven solidly over the years after that.
61%, or more than half of the children (a total of 771,700) were victimized by neglect. This means that a parent or guardian failed to provide for the child's basic needs. This includes but is not limited to the more obvious ones which are food, shelter, clothing, and education. The three main facets of neglect include education neglect (360,500 children), physical neglect (295,300 children), and emotional neglect (193,400 children).
Around 44% of this statistics are comprised of children who were victimized by abuse (553,300 children). This includes physical abuse (325,000 children), sexual abuse (135,000 children), and emotional abuse (145,500 children). A staggering average of nearly four children die each day as a result of child abuse or neglect; based on a study conducted back in year 2007. That comes up with a disturbing number of 1,760 children.
So the question here is: "Who is more likely to be abused or neglected among these children?" Truth is, no group of children is immune from being victimized by abuse or neglect. Although girls are oftentimes more prone to physical abuse compared to boys, boys aren't necessarily ruled out of the equation altogether. For all other types of abuse or neglect, the statistics for the number of boys and girls victimized are apparently equal.
Children coming from all races, ethnicities, or cultural backgrounds can be victims of child abuse. As a matter of fact, back in year 2007, nearly one-half of all victims of child abuse and neglect where Caucasian (46.1%), one-fifth where African-American (21.7%), and one-fifth were Hispanic (20.8%).
Although it has been commonly observed that children of all ages may experience abuse or neglect, it is usually the youngest children which are most vulnerable and susceptible, with almost 32% of the children victimized with abuse or neglect being at the age of four years and below.
Back in year 2007, more than half (57%) of all child abuse cases and reports made to CPS agencies came from professionals who came in contact with the child concerned; this includes but are not limited to teachers, lawyers, police officers, and even social workers. This is mainly because many of these professionals are required by law to report suspected abuse or neglect. But the big question there is what happens to the rest who don't fall under the spectrum of the said statistics?
Many reports (which make up 26 %) came from nonprofessional sources, such as parents, other relatives, friends and neighbors. Anonymous reports have also been counted to make up 7% of all reports in the year 2007.
It should be considered as a cause of great value to know and to be able to identify the signs of child abuse and how to manage and report it. Everyone should be made to understand how important it is to share the responsibility to help keep the children safe and to take the necessary precautions and steps to prevent child abuse from occurring in the first place.
The Latest Child Abuse Statistics
There are several agencies in the country reporting child abuse statistics. These organizations are trying to track trends and find out ways to stop child abuse wherever possible. Child abuse statistics are used to determine where and to whom social resources should be directed.
For example, child abuse statistics state that four children in the US die every day as a result of child abuse. Three out of four were under the age of four. This number has been steadily rising over the years. This all means that there may need to be more resources like crisis nurseries for parents of children who are under the age of four. There may need to be more education on abuse when the parents take the baby home as so many young children are affected. Many experts feel like the rise in statistics is because of an increase in the population and an increase in reporting these cases.
Child abuse statistics also indicate that a report of child abuse is made every ten seconds. Perhaps there should be more call-in facilities for desperate parents who need relief from issues related to abusing their children. Such call-in centers could be anonymous and could offer crisis counseling for parents who just don't know where to turn.
Somewhat surprising child abuse statistics state that children under the age of twelve years who are raped have perpetrators they know up to 90 percent of the time. Education for children can help give them the resources they need to tell someone about the abuse, especially cases where the abuse occurs over time. Having a counselor or trusted person at school to talk to would increase the chances that the child will tell his or her "secrets" to someone who can do something about it.
Child abuse statistics state that child abuse crosses ethnic, socioeconomic and religious lines. No group of people is exempt from child abuse. This may mean that religious figures must be aware of the possibility that someone in their congregation is having problems associated with abuse of their children. Emergency room doctors must be just as suspicious of a child of a well to do family having a broken bone as they do a child of poor parents.
Child abuse statistics affect adult as well. Up to 37% of female prison inmates and 14% of male prison inmates were once victims of child abuse. These rates are higher than the average population and it may indicate that child abuse promotes later illegal activity in adulthood.
Child abuse statistics state that children of sexual abuse are more than twice as likely that average to abuse alcohol. They are also more than 3.8 times likely to abuse drugs. In may mean that drug and alcohol abuse centers may need to deal with child sexual abuse issues before the person can really recover from their addiction issues.
Child abuse statistics inform us that a third of all abuse victims go on to abuse their own children. The cycle of abuse can only be stopped if people recover from their own issues before they have their own children.
For example, child abuse statistics state that four children in the US die every day as a result of child abuse. Three out of four were under the age of four. This number has been steadily rising over the years. This all means that there may need to be more resources like crisis nurseries for parents of children who are under the age of four. There may need to be more education on abuse when the parents take the baby home as so many young children are affected. Many experts feel like the rise in statistics is because of an increase in the population and an increase in reporting these cases.
Child abuse statistics also indicate that a report of child abuse is made every ten seconds. Perhaps there should be more call-in facilities for desperate parents who need relief from issues related to abusing their children. Such call-in centers could be anonymous and could offer crisis counseling for parents who just don't know where to turn.
Somewhat surprising child abuse statistics state that children under the age of twelve years who are raped have perpetrators they know up to 90 percent of the time. Education for children can help give them the resources they need to tell someone about the abuse, especially cases where the abuse occurs over time. Having a counselor or trusted person at school to talk to would increase the chances that the child will tell his or her "secrets" to someone who can do something about it.
Child abuse statistics state that child abuse crosses ethnic, socioeconomic and religious lines. No group of people is exempt from child abuse. This may mean that religious figures must be aware of the possibility that someone in their congregation is having problems associated with abuse of their children. Emergency room doctors must be just as suspicious of a child of a well to do family having a broken bone as they do a child of poor parents.
Child abuse statistics affect adult as well. Up to 37% of female prison inmates and 14% of male prison inmates were once victims of child abuse. These rates are higher than the average population and it may indicate that child abuse promotes later illegal activity in adulthood.
Child abuse statistics state that children of sexual abuse are more than twice as likely that average to abuse alcohol. They are also more than 3.8 times likely to abuse drugs. In may mean that drug and alcohol abuse centers may need to deal with child sexual abuse issues before the person can really recover from their addiction issues.
Child abuse statistics inform us that a third of all abuse victims go on to abuse their own children. The cycle of abuse can only be stopped if people recover from their own issues before they have their own children.
Wednesday, November 2, 2011
Drunk Driving Accidents
First, let us acquaint ourselves with some alarming statistics: 250,000 people have died in alcohol-related accidents in the past 10 years; 25,000 people die each year in alcohol related accidents; 500 people are killed weekly and 71 people daily in alcohol-related accidents; one American life is lost every 20 minutes in an alcohol-related car crash; and one out of every two Americans is likely to be involved in an alcohol-related accident in his lifetime. Every year, 708,000 persons are injured, 74,000 of them seriously, in alcohol-related crashes. About 2,000 people receive injuries each day in alcohol-related accidents.
A recent study reveals that alcohol-impaired drivers cost American taxpayers $21 - $24 billion dollars per year. According to a recent National Geographic report, alcohol abuse costs American society $136 billion and 65,000 lives annually.
The rise in the number of accidents often goes hand-in-hand with binge drinking, meaning having at least five drinks at a time. Binge drinkers were 13 times more likely to report driving while they were alcohol-impaired, and most of them admitted they often had far more than five drinks per binge.
If you receive injuries in a drunk-driving accident, you may be entitled to compensation from the drunk driver or his insurer. Under certain circumstances, even injured pedestrians and their close family members are entitled to receive compensation. Such compensation usually includes payment for medical treatment, past and future lost income, and emotional distress damages.
In some limited instances, the injured person is entitled to get recovery from the provider of alcohol to the driver, usually a bar or restaurant. Such cases against third parties are, however, more complicated and difficult to prove. Punitive damages are meant to punish malicious or reckless drivers, and to deter such conduct in the future.
A recent study reveals that alcohol-impaired drivers cost American taxpayers $21 - $24 billion dollars per year. According to a recent National Geographic report, alcohol abuse costs American society $136 billion and 65,000 lives annually.
The rise in the number of accidents often goes hand-in-hand with binge drinking, meaning having at least five drinks at a time. Binge drinkers were 13 times more likely to report driving while they were alcohol-impaired, and most of them admitted they often had far more than five drinks per binge.
If you receive injuries in a drunk-driving accident, you may be entitled to compensation from the drunk driver or his insurer. Under certain circumstances, even injured pedestrians and their close family members are entitled to receive compensation. Such compensation usually includes payment for medical treatment, past and future lost income, and emotional distress damages.
In some limited instances, the injured person is entitled to get recovery from the provider of alcohol to the driver, usually a bar or restaurant. Such cases against third parties are, however, more complicated and difficult to prove. Punitive damages are meant to punish malicious or reckless drivers, and to deter such conduct in the future.
Holiday DUI Checkpoints - Are Drunk Driving Checkpoints Legal?
It is not your imagination there actually are more law enforcement officers on the roads during the holiday season and therefore there's a greater likelihood that you could be arrested for DUI. For the 2009-2010 Holiday Season the dates of this stepped up period of enforcement in the San Francisco Bay Area will be December 18, 2009 through January 3, 2010. To view a schedule of roadside checkpoints in your area go to californiaavoid.org.
Beginning in 1973 the Santa Clara chapter of Avoid has made it their mission to reduce fatalities that result from drunk driving during the holiday seasons. To do this 125 participating law enforcement agencies and 9 Bay Area Counties coordinate their efforts to include public awareness campaigns, additional officers through increased funds for overtime and roadside checkpoints. Drunk driving arrests peak during the holidays. Last year during the 2008 holiday period, Avoid reported that there were 827 DUI arrests in Santa Clara County alone.
Are Checkpoints Constitutional?
The argument has been made that DUI checkpoints are an infringement of the Fourth Amendment, which protects us against unreasonable search and seizure. While twelve states uphold this belief and do not allow checkpoints, California is not one of them. Furthermore, probable cause is not needed. The Supreme Court ruled, in 1990 that the infringement of citizen's rights caused by DUI checkpoints was overshadowed by the potential public benefit of removing impaired and dangerous drivers from the roads. The Supreme Court added and California adopted the following stipulations that must be adhered to, in order for the stops to be legal:
o Checkpoints must be published in advance
o Locations of checkpoints are to be picked based on drunk driving statistics
o Time frame must be scheduled for effectiveness and minimum intrusiveness
o Roadside stops must be made according to a formula - not by random or profile targeting
o Alternate driving routes must be available
o Warning lights and signs must be clearly visible to alert drivers of slow downs and hazards
o Drivers cannot be detained beyond what is minimally necessary
o A supervisor is required to authorize all actions, not arresting officers
Even if you have not been drinking, a roadblock with a checkpoint can make anyone feel nervous. Remember that holiday checkpoints are for public safety and they are not meant to be harassment. Keep in mind the above requirements for checkpoints to be constitutional. For your part, you must know your rights so that you don't self incriminate.
Can the officer ask if you have been drinking?
You can be asked if you have been drinking but you should be advised that anything you say can and will be used against you. It is better to say nothing. Don't convict yourself. It is your job to protect your fifth amendment right against self-incrimination.
Can your car be searched?
For your car to be searched there must be probable cause. If an officer asks if they may search your vehicle you may politely refuse. Remember anything you say can be used against you so don't offer additional information.
Do you need to submit to sobriety testing if stopped?
Most States including California have implied consent laws whereby refusal to take a field sobriety test results in automatic, one-year suspension of your driving privilege. This suspension can be challenged through a DMV hearing. What is more, you can still be convicted of driving under the influence if there is other evidence that you have been drinking which could include the presence of empty bottles of alcohol or the smell of alcohol on your breath. If given a choice between a blood test and a breathalyzer you might want to opt for the latter as breathalyzer results are less reliable and can be challenged in court by experts.
What if you only had one drink?
Remember that it is not illegal to drink and drive. It is only illegal to be drunk while driving. However, be very careful, because as little as.04% BAC (blood alcohol level) can mean impairment.
.08% BAC is the legal limit under California law. Therefore two drinks could put you over the limit depending upon your weight, what you had to eat and your physiological makeup. It is always better to have a designated driver. A BAC of higher that.15% can result in a harsher punishment. Other things such as prior DUI convictions can also result in harsher punishment known as enhancements.
Beginning in 1973 the Santa Clara chapter of Avoid has made it their mission to reduce fatalities that result from drunk driving during the holiday seasons. To do this 125 participating law enforcement agencies and 9 Bay Area Counties coordinate their efforts to include public awareness campaigns, additional officers through increased funds for overtime and roadside checkpoints. Drunk driving arrests peak during the holidays. Last year during the 2008 holiday period, Avoid reported that there were 827 DUI arrests in Santa Clara County alone.
Are Checkpoints Constitutional?
The argument has been made that DUI checkpoints are an infringement of the Fourth Amendment, which protects us against unreasonable search and seizure. While twelve states uphold this belief and do not allow checkpoints, California is not one of them. Furthermore, probable cause is not needed. The Supreme Court ruled, in 1990 that the infringement of citizen's rights caused by DUI checkpoints was overshadowed by the potential public benefit of removing impaired and dangerous drivers from the roads. The Supreme Court added and California adopted the following stipulations that must be adhered to, in order for the stops to be legal:
o Checkpoints must be published in advance
o Locations of checkpoints are to be picked based on drunk driving statistics
o Time frame must be scheduled for effectiveness and minimum intrusiveness
o Roadside stops must be made according to a formula - not by random or profile targeting
o Alternate driving routes must be available
o Warning lights and signs must be clearly visible to alert drivers of slow downs and hazards
o Drivers cannot be detained beyond what is minimally necessary
o A supervisor is required to authorize all actions, not arresting officers
Even if you have not been drinking, a roadblock with a checkpoint can make anyone feel nervous. Remember that holiday checkpoints are for public safety and they are not meant to be harassment. Keep in mind the above requirements for checkpoints to be constitutional. For your part, you must know your rights so that you don't self incriminate.
Can the officer ask if you have been drinking?
You can be asked if you have been drinking but you should be advised that anything you say can and will be used against you. It is better to say nothing. Don't convict yourself. It is your job to protect your fifth amendment right against self-incrimination.
Can your car be searched?
For your car to be searched there must be probable cause. If an officer asks if they may search your vehicle you may politely refuse. Remember anything you say can be used against you so don't offer additional information.
Do you need to submit to sobriety testing if stopped?
Most States including California have implied consent laws whereby refusal to take a field sobriety test results in automatic, one-year suspension of your driving privilege. This suspension can be challenged through a DMV hearing. What is more, you can still be convicted of driving under the influence if there is other evidence that you have been drinking which could include the presence of empty bottles of alcohol or the smell of alcohol on your breath. If given a choice between a blood test and a breathalyzer you might want to opt for the latter as breathalyzer results are less reliable and can be challenged in court by experts.
What if you only had one drink?
Remember that it is not illegal to drink and drive. It is only illegal to be drunk while driving. However, be very careful, because as little as.04% BAC (blood alcohol level) can mean impairment.
.08% BAC is the legal limit under California law. Therefore two drinks could put you over the limit depending upon your weight, what you had to eat and your physiological makeup. It is always better to have a designated driver. A BAC of higher that.15% can result in a harsher punishment. Other things such as prior DUI convictions can also result in harsher punishment known as enhancements.
DUI Arrest Consequences and Statistics
Anyone who drinks and then drives is potentially making themselves liable for a Driving While Intoxicated arrest. A Blood Alcohol Content of 0.08% means that you are considered to be legally drunk. You can be pulled over by law enforcement, even if you are not involved in an accident, if you are exhibiting certain behaviors while driving. Weaving over the dividing line, driving off the road onto the shoulder, suddenly accelerating and slowing, going through a stop sign, and driving without lights at night can all get the attention of a police officer.
If you are pulled over, a breathalyzer test and other tests to determine sobriety will be administered, and if you are found to be intoxicated, you will be arrested for drunk driving. If you refuse to take any of the tests, which you are legally able to do, you will be considered to be drunk by default and you will probably experience a DWI arrest. This will result in immediate suspension or revocation of your driver's license. The severity of the arrest will also depend on whether this is a first or repeat offense.
A law enforcement officer will nearly always ask if the person they have pulled over how many drinks they have had. Basically, whatever you answer, if there is alcohol on your breath, you will be arrested for DWI. You will probably be handcuffed, taken to a police station, and charged.
While a first DWI arrest will generally be treated more leniently than any subsequent arrests, the penalties will still affect your life in several important ways. Your license will instantly be suspended for 90 to 365 days. If you need a car to get to work, you might lose your job if no other means of transportation is available. Your auto insurance will either be cancelled or the premiums will skyrocket. The state may impound your car, also.
Usually, a first DWI offender will get probation instead of actual jail time. You will often have to perform community service and enter an alcohol treatment program. As a fine is always given in DWI arrest cases, you might also find that your monetary responsibility will be lessened if you agree to the above programs.
If you experience more than one DWI arrest, the penalties will become progressively more onerous. Not only might your car be impounded, sometimes the state will even auction off your car, which is one way of making sure that your chances of drunk driving are minimized. Being arrested more than once for drunk driving will almost ensure a prison term, heavy fine, and revocation of your license. You will also have the added attorney fees and court costs. If your drunk driving has caused injury or death, you will face very serious felony charges, possibly vehicular manslaughter or homicide.
It is in your own best interests, as well as the interests of anyone who might get in the way of your automobile, for you to take a cab home after a night on the town. The small expense of a taxi is really nothing when compared to all the attendant costs and miseries of a DWI arrest.
2008 - National DUI / Drunk Driving Statistics
•Official statistics for people who are arrested nationally for drunk driving / DUI (Driving under the Influence) not yet known
•10,684 fatal accidents nationally where at least one driver had a BAC of 0.8% or above
•11,773 people were killed nationally in accidents where at least one driver had a BAC of 0.8% or above
•2,072 people were killed nationally in accidents where at least one driver had a BAC between 0.01% and 0.07%
•13,846 total deaths were caused nationally where at least one driver had a BAC of 0.01% or above.
DUI Arrest Statistics shows increasing number of drunk driving offenders.
DUI Consequences.com provides all the state specific DUI laws about DUI/ drunk driving for offenders. Get this information available through our website.
If you are pulled over, a breathalyzer test and other tests to determine sobriety will be administered, and if you are found to be intoxicated, you will be arrested for drunk driving. If you refuse to take any of the tests, which you are legally able to do, you will be considered to be drunk by default and you will probably experience a DWI arrest. This will result in immediate suspension or revocation of your driver's license. The severity of the arrest will also depend on whether this is a first or repeat offense.
A law enforcement officer will nearly always ask if the person they have pulled over how many drinks they have had. Basically, whatever you answer, if there is alcohol on your breath, you will be arrested for DWI. You will probably be handcuffed, taken to a police station, and charged.
While a first DWI arrest will generally be treated more leniently than any subsequent arrests, the penalties will still affect your life in several important ways. Your license will instantly be suspended for 90 to 365 days. If you need a car to get to work, you might lose your job if no other means of transportation is available. Your auto insurance will either be cancelled or the premiums will skyrocket. The state may impound your car, also.
Usually, a first DWI offender will get probation instead of actual jail time. You will often have to perform community service and enter an alcohol treatment program. As a fine is always given in DWI arrest cases, you might also find that your monetary responsibility will be lessened if you agree to the above programs.
If you experience more than one DWI arrest, the penalties will become progressively more onerous. Not only might your car be impounded, sometimes the state will even auction off your car, which is one way of making sure that your chances of drunk driving are minimized. Being arrested more than once for drunk driving will almost ensure a prison term, heavy fine, and revocation of your license. You will also have the added attorney fees and court costs. If your drunk driving has caused injury or death, you will face very serious felony charges, possibly vehicular manslaughter or homicide.
It is in your own best interests, as well as the interests of anyone who might get in the way of your automobile, for you to take a cab home after a night on the town. The small expense of a taxi is really nothing when compared to all the attendant costs and miseries of a DWI arrest.
2008 - National DUI / Drunk Driving Statistics
•Official statistics for people who are arrested nationally for drunk driving / DUI (Driving under the Influence) not yet known
•10,684 fatal accidents nationally where at least one driver had a BAC of 0.8% or above
•11,773 people were killed nationally in accidents where at least one driver had a BAC of 0.8% or above
•2,072 people were killed nationally in accidents where at least one driver had a BAC between 0.01% and 0.07%
•13,846 total deaths were caused nationally where at least one driver had a BAC of 0.01% or above.
DUI Arrest Statistics shows increasing number of drunk driving offenders.
DUI Consequences.com provides all the state specific DUI laws about DUI/ drunk driving for offenders. Get this information available through our website.
Drinking Driving Statistics in Iowa
Driving under the influence as we know is irresponsible and can ruin lives in many ways. Individuals who have a tendency to drink and drive put the lives of innocent people at risk. Drinking and driving statistics helps us to get an idea about what this type of reckless behavior can cause.
Iowa Drunk Driving Stats
Let's look at the State of Iowa for example, 22 percent of traffic fatalities in 2008 were alcohol related and involved a blood alcohol concentration (BAC) of 0.08 or higher. Below is a list for Iowa DUI and drunk driving statistics for 2007 according to reports.
Statistics are based on estimates and may fluctuation, so keep that in mind as you look at the figures. These numbers may change as more data becomes available. Regardless of the changes in figures, the lesson still remains the same - drunk driving needs to be taken very seriously because it takes innocent human lives.
* Statistics show that approximately 13,000 people were arrested in Iowa for drunk driving or Driving under the Influence.
* Approximately 30 people were killed in Iowa in accidents where at least one driver had a BAC between 0.01 percent and 0.07 percent.
* A little over 135 total deaths caused in Iowa where caused by drivers who had a blood alcohol concentration level of 0.01 percent or above.
* Over 90 fatal accidents in the state of Iowa where at least one driver had a BAC (blood alcohol concentration) of 0.08 percent or higher.
* Over 100 individuals were killed in Iowa due to alcohol accidents where at least one driver had a blood alcohol content level of 0.08 percent or over.
Iowa DUI Defense Attorneys at Your Service
Individuals arrested for driving under the influence and need legal representation can enlist the service of defense attorneys to help them with their case. DUI/DWI attorneys in Iowa can help to lower your charges, save your driver license from being suspended, or possibly get your charges dismissed and more.
Better to be Safe than Sorry
Hopefully this drinking and driving statistics in Iowa will open up the eyes of many who think it is okay to drink and drive. Maybe next time they will think twice before getting behind the wheel while drunk. The life they save may be their own.
Iowa Drunk Driving Stats
Let's look at the State of Iowa for example, 22 percent of traffic fatalities in 2008 were alcohol related and involved a blood alcohol concentration (BAC) of 0.08 or higher. Below is a list for Iowa DUI and drunk driving statistics for 2007 according to reports.
Statistics are based on estimates and may fluctuation, so keep that in mind as you look at the figures. These numbers may change as more data becomes available. Regardless of the changes in figures, the lesson still remains the same - drunk driving needs to be taken very seriously because it takes innocent human lives.
* Statistics show that approximately 13,000 people were arrested in Iowa for drunk driving or Driving under the Influence.
* Approximately 30 people were killed in Iowa in accidents where at least one driver had a BAC between 0.01 percent and 0.07 percent.
* A little over 135 total deaths caused in Iowa where caused by drivers who had a blood alcohol concentration level of 0.01 percent or above.
* Over 90 fatal accidents in the state of Iowa where at least one driver had a BAC (blood alcohol concentration) of 0.08 percent or higher.
* Over 100 individuals were killed in Iowa due to alcohol accidents where at least one driver had a blood alcohol content level of 0.08 percent or over.
Iowa DUI Defense Attorneys at Your Service
Individuals arrested for driving under the influence and need legal representation can enlist the service of defense attorneys to help them with their case. DUI/DWI attorneys in Iowa can help to lower your charges, save your driver license from being suspended, or possibly get your charges dismissed and more.
Better to be Safe than Sorry
Hopefully this drinking and driving statistics in Iowa will open up the eyes of many who think it is okay to drink and drive. Maybe next time they will think twice before getting behind the wheel while drunk. The life they save may be their own.
Teenage Drunk Driving
Teenage drunk driving is a serious problem for our nations youth. It's hard to believe but more and more teenagers are using and abusing alcohol and/or drugs than ever before. Combine that with the intense peer pressure that teenagers go through and we have a serious problem called teenage drunk driving.
The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) reports that motor vehicle crashes are the leading cause of death for teenagers between the ages of 15 and 20. One report puts the numbers of high school students who admit to driving after drinking at almost 50% of those polled. That's a staggering statistic by any means but what's even worse is that these are teenagers who aren't used to being behind the wheel, going through emotional changes/puberty, and subject to a tremendous amount of peer pressure.
The problem comes from the amount of teenagers with access to alcohol and/or drugs. Statistics show that one out of every ten teens (age 12-13) drink alcohol at a minimum of once per month. By limiting the access that these teenagers have to drugs and/or alcohol we are half way there to controlling this dangerous problem of teenage drunk driving.
Teenage drunk drivers also face some serious legal consequences that will harm them into their adult lives. They face revocation of their driving privileges, stiff fines, probation, alcohol education and treatment, and community service not to mention potential jail/prison time for a severe offense.
Overall this problem has not gotten enough publicity and awareness... most parents don't realize that their kids have access to alcohol nonetheless that they 'may' be driving drunk. The solutions to this problem encompass education, awareness, preventing access to alcohol, and most of all prevention.
The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) reports that motor vehicle crashes are the leading cause of death for teenagers between the ages of 15 and 20. One report puts the numbers of high school students who admit to driving after drinking at almost 50% of those polled. That's a staggering statistic by any means but what's even worse is that these are teenagers who aren't used to being behind the wheel, going through emotional changes/puberty, and subject to a tremendous amount of peer pressure.
The problem comes from the amount of teenagers with access to alcohol and/or drugs. Statistics show that one out of every ten teens (age 12-13) drink alcohol at a minimum of once per month. By limiting the access that these teenagers have to drugs and/or alcohol we are half way there to controlling this dangerous problem of teenage drunk driving.
Teenage drunk drivers also face some serious legal consequences that will harm them into their adult lives. They face revocation of their driving privileges, stiff fines, probation, alcohol education and treatment, and community service not to mention potential jail/prison time for a severe offense.
Overall this problem has not gotten enough publicity and awareness... most parents don't realize that their kids have access to alcohol nonetheless that they 'may' be driving drunk. The solutions to this problem encompass education, awareness, preventing access to alcohol, and most of all prevention.
The Latest Drunk Driving Statistics
For far too long, drunk driving in South Africa has largely been ignored by the authorities and has claimed literally thousands of lives of both drivers and pedestrians over the years. This season, however, the powers-to-be have beefed up their presence on the roads with positively resounding results - the casualties on South African roads have virtually halved.
Fifty percent of dead drivers are over the limit
Although road users are clearly delighted at the zero tolerance approach to drunk driving, startling statistics reveal that as many as 50% of drivers who die on our roads are indeed above the legal limit (0.05 grams per 100 ml).
Figures posted by the Arrive Alive campaign for 2002 and 2003 indicate a marked increase of drivers driving while under the influence of alcohol - from 1.80% to 3.10%. In 2002, it was the North West Province that had the most culprits with as many as 4% driving drunk, but in 2003 Mpumalanga had the dubious honour of topping the list with 4.68%.
Road users in South Africa are far more vulnerable to drunk driving at night and the statistics for 2002 and 2003 make a drastic leap between the hours of 18h00 to 24h00 when as many as 5.50% of all drivers were found to be driving drunk in '02 and 5.08% in 2003.
Sadly, the death toll has increased exponentially over the years with its only beneficiaries being the overworked car accident attorneys. A study conducted by the Medical Research Council of South Africa in 2004 indicated that more than half of the 570 drivers killed in accidents were over the legal limit, an unacceptable figure by anyone's standards.
A drunk driver or pedestrian is killed every 2 hours on SA roads
To put things into sharp perspective, a drunk driver or pedestrian is killed on South African roads every two hours (figures for 2004 - 2006), with the most victims claimed in the Gauteng province, closely followed by KwaZulu-Natal and the Western Cape.
A good car accident lawyer will advise you to avoid the local taxis, especially at night, and for very good reason. In 2005 the taxi industry cracked all records by becoming the most dangerous transportation sector, with 7.70% of drivers driving drunk at night. Interestingly enough, the drivers who are least likely to drive while inebriated are truck drivers.
Fifty percent of dead drivers are over the limit
Although road users are clearly delighted at the zero tolerance approach to drunk driving, startling statistics reveal that as many as 50% of drivers who die on our roads are indeed above the legal limit (0.05 grams per 100 ml).
Figures posted by the Arrive Alive campaign for 2002 and 2003 indicate a marked increase of drivers driving while under the influence of alcohol - from 1.80% to 3.10%. In 2002, it was the North West Province that had the most culprits with as many as 4% driving drunk, but in 2003 Mpumalanga had the dubious honour of topping the list with 4.68%.
Road users in South Africa are far more vulnerable to drunk driving at night and the statistics for 2002 and 2003 make a drastic leap between the hours of 18h00 to 24h00 when as many as 5.50% of all drivers were found to be driving drunk in '02 and 5.08% in 2003.
Sadly, the death toll has increased exponentially over the years with its only beneficiaries being the overworked car accident attorneys. A study conducted by the Medical Research Council of South Africa in 2004 indicated that more than half of the 570 drivers killed in accidents were over the legal limit, an unacceptable figure by anyone's standards.
A drunk driver or pedestrian is killed every 2 hours on SA roads
To put things into sharp perspective, a drunk driver or pedestrian is killed on South African roads every two hours (figures for 2004 - 2006), with the most victims claimed in the Gauteng province, closely followed by KwaZulu-Natal and the Western Cape.
A good car accident lawyer will advise you to avoid the local taxis, especially at night, and for very good reason. In 2005 the taxi industry cracked all records by becoming the most dangerous transportation sector, with 7.70% of drivers driving drunk at night. Interestingly enough, the drivers who are least likely to drive while inebriated are truck drivers.
Drunk Driving Statistics - Fact Or Fiction?
Every 30 minutes, another person is killed by a drunk driver - so says one set of dramatic statistics often cited by anti-alcohol activist groups like Mothers Against Drunk Driving (MADD). No doubt such a statistic should and does make an impact on anyone who hears it. Drunk driving is not a laughing matter, and it is most definitely a serious issue - however, the situation may not be nearly as grim as some make it out to be.
There's a saying that 90% of all statistics can be made to say anything, 50% of the time. While this statement is obviously an exaggeration, it contains a grain of truth - statistics are not nearly as scientifically sound as many people would like to believe. In many cases, statistics become skewed (whether intentionally or unintentionally) and communicate a message inconsistent with the reality they are meant to depict. Could something like this happen in DWI-related research?
Alcohol-Related Incidents
If you believe the popular media, about 50% of all traffic fatalities are caused by the actions of people driving drunk. If you choose to find the truth yourself, you'll probably come up with a percentage closer to 10%, according to the National Motorists Association - a significant drop, to say the least.
Why is the popularized figure so far off? One cause is an unfortunate confusion involving the term "alcohol-related incident." In most cases, any traffic fatality in which someone involved has a measurable amount of alcohol in their system qualifies as an "alcohol-related incident."
This applies even if the person with alcohol in their system was not physically or mentally impaired by alcohol in anyway, if he or she was not the cause of the accident, or even if he or she was an innocent pedestrian who was not behind the wheel at all. That is to say, if a sober driver is driving recklessly and kills a non-impaired pedestrian with a blood alcohol concentration (BAC) of .01 (the legal limit is .08, for comparison), the incident will be classified as alcohol-related and spread over the media by special interest groups and politicians.
Politicization of the Issue
Unfortunately, efforts to actually deter drunk driving have been hindered by the sensationalist approach of the popular media, the single-minded crusade of biased interest groups, and the general politicization of the topic. Because dire DWI statistics make good news, promote interest groups' narrow-minded agendas, and make for dramatic political speeches, they are often preferred in place of the truth.
Although the original goal of organizations like MADD (that is, the goal of preventing drunk driving) is a noble one, this goal has been perverted, becoming more about highly visible and politically attractive actions (sobriety roadblocks and checkpoints, for example) than about solutions which have been scientifically proven to work.
There's a saying that 90% of all statistics can be made to say anything, 50% of the time. While this statement is obviously an exaggeration, it contains a grain of truth - statistics are not nearly as scientifically sound as many people would like to believe. In many cases, statistics become skewed (whether intentionally or unintentionally) and communicate a message inconsistent with the reality they are meant to depict. Could something like this happen in DWI-related research?
Alcohol-Related Incidents
If you believe the popular media, about 50% of all traffic fatalities are caused by the actions of people driving drunk. If you choose to find the truth yourself, you'll probably come up with a percentage closer to 10%, according to the National Motorists Association - a significant drop, to say the least.
Why is the popularized figure so far off? One cause is an unfortunate confusion involving the term "alcohol-related incident." In most cases, any traffic fatality in which someone involved has a measurable amount of alcohol in their system qualifies as an "alcohol-related incident."
This applies even if the person with alcohol in their system was not physically or mentally impaired by alcohol in anyway, if he or she was not the cause of the accident, or even if he or she was an innocent pedestrian who was not behind the wheel at all. That is to say, if a sober driver is driving recklessly and kills a non-impaired pedestrian with a blood alcohol concentration (BAC) of .01 (the legal limit is .08, for comparison), the incident will be classified as alcohol-related and spread over the media by special interest groups and politicians.
Politicization of the Issue
Unfortunately, efforts to actually deter drunk driving have been hindered by the sensationalist approach of the popular media, the single-minded crusade of biased interest groups, and the general politicization of the topic. Because dire DWI statistics make good news, promote interest groups' narrow-minded agendas, and make for dramatic political speeches, they are often preferred in place of the truth.
Although the original goal of organizations like MADD (that is, the goal of preventing drunk driving) is a noble one, this goal has been perverted, becoming more about highly visible and politically attractive actions (sobriety roadblocks and checkpoints, for example) than about solutions which have been scientifically proven to work.
Drunk Driving Statistics and You
Driving while drunk is a serious mistake that can have severe consequences. Each time you get behind the wheel while intoxicated, you put yourself, your passengers, and other road users at risk of being involved in a serious accident. You also risk being stopped by police and arrested for driving while intoxicated. If convicted, your punishment may include suspension of your driver's license, heavy fines, probation or jail time, and community service.
Alcohol-Related Crash Deaths
Despite the heavy penalties for drunk driving, many people still choose to get in the car while drunk. Each year thousands of people are killed in alcohol related accidents across the country. A report by the organization End Needless Death on Our Roadways found that, in several states, alcohol related road deaths accounted for 40 percent or more of all road deaths each year. The state with the highest alcohol related death rate was Rhode Island, with a whopping 55% of all traffic deaths involving alcohol. Rhode Island's alcohol-related death rate has remained higher than the national average since 1982. The percentage of traffic deaths involving alcohol in Rhode Island has been calculated between 45% and 67% each year, much higher than the national average of 30%.
It Could Be You
The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) estimates that on average a person dies in an alcohol-related accident every 30 minutes. Even more alarming is the fact that impaired driving will affect one-third of Americans at some point in their lifetime, either by being a drunk driver, riding with a drunk driver, or being involved in an accident with an impaired driver. In 2002 alone, 17,419 people were killed in alcohol-related crashes in the U.S.
If you are drunk, don't even risk getting the car. In many states, even just sitting in a parked car while drunk can result in an Operating Under the Influence (OUI) charge. Even if you just feel tipsy, wait until you are sober to drive or call a friend or taxi, or take the bus, bike, or walk home if possible. Don't rely on a drunk friend to take you home, even if they say that they are okay to drive. If they have been drinking right alongside you, chances are they are still drunk too. Getting behind the wheel while drunk is not worth the risk of being arrested for a DUI, and it certainly isn't worth the risk to your life or someone else's.
Alcohol-Related Crash Deaths
Despite the heavy penalties for drunk driving, many people still choose to get in the car while drunk. Each year thousands of people are killed in alcohol related accidents across the country. A report by the organization End Needless Death on Our Roadways found that, in several states, alcohol related road deaths accounted for 40 percent or more of all road deaths each year. The state with the highest alcohol related death rate was Rhode Island, with a whopping 55% of all traffic deaths involving alcohol. Rhode Island's alcohol-related death rate has remained higher than the national average since 1982. The percentage of traffic deaths involving alcohol in Rhode Island has been calculated between 45% and 67% each year, much higher than the national average of 30%.
It Could Be You
The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) estimates that on average a person dies in an alcohol-related accident every 30 minutes. Even more alarming is the fact that impaired driving will affect one-third of Americans at some point in their lifetime, either by being a drunk driver, riding with a drunk driver, or being involved in an accident with an impaired driver. In 2002 alone, 17,419 people were killed in alcohol-related crashes in the U.S.
If you are drunk, don't even risk getting the car. In many states, even just sitting in a parked car while drunk can result in an Operating Under the Influence (OUI) charge. Even if you just feel tipsy, wait until you are sober to drive or call a friend or taxi, or take the bus, bike, or walk home if possible. Don't rely on a drunk friend to take you home, even if they say that they are okay to drive. If they have been drinking right alongside you, chances are they are still drunk too. Getting behind the wheel while drunk is not worth the risk of being arrested for a DUI, and it certainly isn't worth the risk to your life or someone else's.
Drunk Driving Statistics for Drunk Driving Accidents During the Holidays
According to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA), fatalities from impaired or drunk driving accidents are higher over the Christmas and New Year's holidays when compared to the fatalities occurring on the other days in December.
Drunk driving statistics include any vehicle operator with a blood alcohol content (BAC) of .01 and up. In 2009, 32% of total traffic fatalities for the year involved drivers with a BAC of .08 and higher. It is important to understand that just because a person may in fact be well below the.08 legal limit, their judgment and reflexes are impaired enough to cause drunk driving accidents and fatal crashes. In fact, drivers with a BAC level of .01-.07 cause an average of over 1,900 fatal crashes nationally. They are given the term 'alcohol-impaired' to more accurately reflect their condition.
The winter holidays are an especially dangerous time. Combine drinking at holiday celebrations with, for many, unforgiving winter road conditions, and you've got a deadly recipe. As drunk driving statistics show, it doesn't take much alcohol to create an alcohol-impaired driver. Alcohol-impaired drivers cause an average of 54 fatal drunk driving accidents per day over the New Year's holiday period alone. That's 66% higher than the daily number for the rest of the year. Over the Christmas holiday, they cause 45 fatalities per day. A BAC of 1.7 was the most common recorded BAC level in drunk driving accidents resulting in fatality.
Many parents don't think twice about driving the family home from a holiday celebration after having a couple of drinks. However, in 2009, a total of 181 children age 14 and younger were killed in alcohol-impaired-driving crashes. Out of those 181 deaths, 92 (51%) were occupants of a vehicle with a driver who had a BAC level of .08 or higher.
U.S. Transportation Secretary Ray LaHood kicked off the annual "Drunk Driving. Over The Limit. Under Arrest" winter holiday crackdown involving thousands of law enforcement agencies across the nation. Secretary LaHood also highlighted the new " No Refusal strategy that a number of states are employing to put a stop to drunk driving.
One goal behind the policy is to improve deterrence, meaning less drunk drivers on the road, and minimize repeat offenders. According to the NHTSA drunk driving statistics, 8% of drivers with a BAC level of .08 or above had prior DWI convictions.
Through the "No Refusal" strategy, law enforcement officers are able to quickly obtain warrants from "on call" judges in order to take blood samples from suspected drunk drivers who refuse a breathalyzer test. According to NHTSA, a large number of people refuse the breathalyzer test. After adopting the "No Refusal" programs, many states have reported more guilty pleas, fewer trials, and more drunk driving convictions.
In a press event in Washington DC on Dec. 13, 2010, Administrator David Strickland told the audience that it's important to note that the No Refusals policy "guarantees a suspect's due process rights. Test specimens are preserved for independent verification."
Strickland also added, "If you are going to partake of some Holiday cheer with friends and family this season and you don't want to end up in jail, plan ahead and designate a sober driver."
Drunk driving statistics include any vehicle operator with a blood alcohol content (BAC) of .01 and up. In 2009, 32% of total traffic fatalities for the year involved drivers with a BAC of .08 and higher. It is important to understand that just because a person may in fact be well below the.08 legal limit, their judgment and reflexes are impaired enough to cause drunk driving accidents and fatal crashes. In fact, drivers with a BAC level of .01-.07 cause an average of over 1,900 fatal crashes nationally. They are given the term 'alcohol-impaired' to more accurately reflect their condition.
The winter holidays are an especially dangerous time. Combine drinking at holiday celebrations with, for many, unforgiving winter road conditions, and you've got a deadly recipe. As drunk driving statistics show, it doesn't take much alcohol to create an alcohol-impaired driver. Alcohol-impaired drivers cause an average of 54 fatal drunk driving accidents per day over the New Year's holiday period alone. That's 66% higher than the daily number for the rest of the year. Over the Christmas holiday, they cause 45 fatalities per day. A BAC of 1.7 was the most common recorded BAC level in drunk driving accidents resulting in fatality.
Many parents don't think twice about driving the family home from a holiday celebration after having a couple of drinks. However, in 2009, a total of 181 children age 14 and younger were killed in alcohol-impaired-driving crashes. Out of those 181 deaths, 92 (51%) were occupants of a vehicle with a driver who had a BAC level of .08 or higher.
U.S. Transportation Secretary Ray LaHood kicked off the annual "Drunk Driving. Over The Limit. Under Arrest" winter holiday crackdown involving thousands of law enforcement agencies across the nation. Secretary LaHood also highlighted the new " No Refusal strategy that a number of states are employing to put a stop to drunk driving.
One goal behind the policy is to improve deterrence, meaning less drunk drivers on the road, and minimize repeat offenders. According to the NHTSA drunk driving statistics, 8% of drivers with a BAC level of .08 or above had prior DWI convictions.
Through the "No Refusal" strategy, law enforcement officers are able to quickly obtain warrants from "on call" judges in order to take blood samples from suspected drunk drivers who refuse a breathalyzer test. According to NHTSA, a large number of people refuse the breathalyzer test. After adopting the "No Refusal" programs, many states have reported more guilty pleas, fewer trials, and more drunk driving convictions.
In a press event in Washington DC on Dec. 13, 2010, Administrator David Strickland told the audience that it's important to note that the No Refusals policy "guarantees a suspect's due process rights. Test specimens are preserved for independent verification."
Strickland also added, "If you are going to partake of some Holiday cheer with friends and family this season and you don't want to end up in jail, plan ahead and designate a sober driver."
Fact Drunk Driving Statistics
Road accidents can be fatal and sometimes cost people their lives. Many mishaps on the road are the result of drowsy driving, distracted driving or aggressive driving. Novice drivers are also the cause of a lot of accidents. However, most road accidents are the result of drunk driving. People high on alcohol usually drive recklessly and cause many fatal accidents. Because of this, drunk driving is considered a felony in the US. According to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA), any motor vehicle accident is considered alcohol-related if either the offender or the victim involved in the accident is determined to have had a blood alcohol concentration or BAC of .01 gram per deciliter (g/dL) or higher. The Department of Motor Vehicles maintains records and yearly statistics of all motor crashes and their respective details.
The details provided by NHTSHA during 2004, are an eye opener to the large-scale risks of drunk driving. An average of one alcohol-related crash occurred every 31 minutes in 2004. Twenty-one percent of the children killed in fatal drunk driving crashes were 14 or below. An estimated 248,000 people were injured in alcohol-related crashes -- one person injured approximately every 2 minutes. The rate of alcohol-related crashes is 3 times higher at night than during the day. The percentage of drivers involved in alcohol-related crashes was higher for males, and the drivers were between 21 and 24 years of age. BAC levels of .08 or higher were found in 27% of motorcyclists, 21% of light truck drivers and 22% of drivers of passenger cars. The percentage of drivers with the highest BAC levels was lowest for large trucks. The BAC level among most recorded was .18.
Traffic crashes continue to increase in the 15 to 20 year old age group. Most states conduct campaigns against drunk driving and have legislations implementing the minimum drinking age of 21 years old. Heavy penalties are inflicted on establishments that sell alcohol to teenagers. Various surveys continue to be conducted to find out the causes of teenage consumption of alcohol.
The details provided by NHTSHA during 2004, are an eye opener to the large-scale risks of drunk driving. An average of one alcohol-related crash occurred every 31 minutes in 2004. Twenty-one percent of the children killed in fatal drunk driving crashes were 14 or below. An estimated 248,000 people were injured in alcohol-related crashes -- one person injured approximately every 2 minutes. The rate of alcohol-related crashes is 3 times higher at night than during the day. The percentage of drivers involved in alcohol-related crashes was higher for males, and the drivers were between 21 and 24 years of age. BAC levels of .08 or higher were found in 27% of motorcyclists, 21% of light truck drivers and 22% of drivers of passenger cars. The percentage of drivers with the highest BAC levels was lowest for large trucks. The BAC level among most recorded was .18.
Traffic crashes continue to increase in the 15 to 20 year old age group. Most states conduct campaigns against drunk driving and have legislations implementing the minimum drinking age of 21 years old. Heavy penalties are inflicted on establishments that sell alcohol to teenagers. Various surveys continue to be conducted to find out the causes of teenage consumption of alcohol.
Tuesday, November 1, 2011
Lies, damned lies, and Domestic Violence Statistics
Claiming to be a victim of Domestic Violence is now a passport to getting Legal Aid in Family Court proceedings, and for obtaining indefinite leave to remain in UK when threatened with deportation. With such incentives to make false allegations, it can be difficult to guage the true extent of Domestic Violence. It’s worth looking again at the investigation which Tim Harford’s BBC Radio 4 “More or Less” programme carried out in 2009:
EXTRACT FROM RADIO BROADCAST
“Domestic Violence is the leading cause of mortality among women aged 15 – 44″ Where did this statistic come from? Since the Home Office confidently asserted it in the Foreward to their 2005 document “Domestic Violence, a National Review” we asked them where they got it from. They gave us a statement in which they said: “The statistic was used for illustrative purposes.” Now, there’s some fine print for you!
They also pointed us to the World Bank’s World Development Report for 1993. But even the World Bank’s research shows domestic violence and rape in 6th place as a source of morbidity. So it seems that from the original claim in 1993, there had been multiple bouts of statistical inflation. The 1993 table showed rape and domestic violence as the 6th largest cause of morbidity in women aged 15 – 44, globally. Leaving to one side the difficulties in collecting that statistic, morbidity (ill-health) then mutated into mortality (death), global figures were then used in UK without any mention that they were global figures, rape was dropped from the category without making any adjustments, and the whole lot was booted up the league table from 6th place to 1st place.
Thank goodness for “illustrative purposes.” Otherwise, I’d be worried that a bogus statistic had echoed round the world, copied apparently without question into official reports, news bulletins and policy documents.
EXTRACT FROM RADIO BROADCAST
“Domestic Violence is the leading cause of mortality among women aged 15 – 44″ Where did this statistic come from? Since the Home Office confidently asserted it in the Foreward to their 2005 document “Domestic Violence, a National Review” we asked them where they got it from. They gave us a statement in which they said: “The statistic was used for illustrative purposes.” Now, there’s some fine print for you!
They also pointed us to the World Bank’s World Development Report for 1993. But even the World Bank’s research shows domestic violence and rape in 6th place as a source of morbidity. So it seems that from the original claim in 1993, there had been multiple bouts of statistical inflation. The 1993 table showed rape and domestic violence as the 6th largest cause of morbidity in women aged 15 – 44, globally. Leaving to one side the difficulties in collecting that statistic, morbidity (ill-health) then mutated into mortality (death), global figures were then used in UK without any mention that they were global figures, rape was dropped from the category without making any adjustments, and the whole lot was booted up the league table from 6th place to 1st place.
Thank goodness for “illustrative purposes.” Otherwise, I’d be worried that a bogus statistic had echoed round the world, copied apparently without question into official reports, news bulletins and policy documents.
You Must Know Domestic Violence Statistics
* A woman is physically assaulted within her home every 15 seconds. Nearly 6 million women will be battered in any single year, and more than 25% of adult women in this country are likely to be victimized during an intimate relationship.
* Battery is the single major cause of injury to women, exceeding street rape, muggings, or auto accident. Some 2,000 to 4,000 women are beaten to death annually.
* 95% of batterers are men. In heterosexual partner abuse, 95% of the time it is the woman who gets hurt. Battering does occur in lesbian and gay relationships, but no reliable statistics are available about its prevalence. Battering happens in dating relationships -- not just when the couple is married, living together, or having sex.
* At least half of the children of battered women are physically or sexually abused by their mother's assailant. 68% of children witness the assaults; more than 90 % know about the assaults.
* In this country, a women's chances of being assaulted at home by her partner are greater than those of a police officer being assaulted on the job.
* In the United States, 3,000 women are killed each year by their husbands, lovers or boyfriends.
* Women are in greater danger when they are trying to leave their batterers. Homicides often occur after the woman has left her assailant. 70% of all violence occurs after the woman has left her assailant.
* Women perpetrate less than 15% of all homicides. Homicides committed by women are seven times more likely to be in self-defense as homicides committed by men.
* Battering cuts across racial and socio-economic lines. It occurs in middle class and upper class homes, as well as in working class and poor families.
* One out of every three girls and one out of every eight boys will be sexually abused by an adult before they reach the age of 18. Nine out of ten times the perpetrator will be someone the child knows.
* One out of 7 wives is raped by her husband. At least 40% of physically battered women are also sexually abused.
* More than one million abused women seek medical help for injuries caused by battering each year. Twenty percent of visits by women to emergency services are due to domestic violence. Half of all battered women will be beaten in their stomachs when they are pregnant.
* At least half of the time, the perpetrator of domestic violence has an alcohol or other drug problem. Injuries to the woman are likely to be more serious when the perpetrator is using alcohol or other drugs. Alcohol and other drug addiction does not cause domestic violence; the problems must be addressed separately. Stopping the assailants' drinking will not stop their violence.
* The F.B.I. estimates that only 10% of domestic assaults are reported.
* Battering is not caused by stress, unemployment, addiction, poor impulse control or childhood victimization. Violence is a behavioral choice made by one partner to control the other.
* Battering is the single major cause of injury to women--more frequent than auto accidents, muggings and rapes combined.
* Studies have estimated 3 to 4 million American women are battered each year by their husbands or partners. Nearly 6 million U.S. wives are physically abused by their husbands or boy friends during their marriage. Nationally, a woman is beaten every 15 seconds.
* Sixty-six percent of American women will be beaten at least once during their marriage. 25% of U.S. wives are severely beaten during the course of their marriage. 75% of women who are battered are divorced or separated from their abusers at the time of the incident.
* Domestic violence occurs among rural, urban, and suburban women of all ages, ethnic, racial, religious, educational, and socio-economic groups. Approximately 95% of the victims of domestic violence are women.
* In one state study (Minnesota), 63,000 women are abused each year. In Minnesota, there were 18 women killed in 1989; 25 women were killed in 1990.
Physical and Mental Health Statistics
* Twenty-two percent to 35% of all Emergency Room visits by women are related to battering.
* Between 25% and 45% of battered women are abused during pregnancy. A battered pregnant woman is 4 times more likely to have a low-birth weight baby and her chances of miscarriage are double.
* Thirty-three percent of battered women carry a diagnosis/treatment protocol associated with anxiety and depression. 26% of all women who attempt to commit suicide are victims of domestic violence.
* Sixty-four percent of hospitalized female psychiatric patients have a history of being physically abused as an adult.
Domestic Abuse—The Generational Impact
* Boys who witness domestic violence are more likely to batter their female partners as adults than boys raised in nonviolent homes. Of the children who witness domestic abuse, 60% of the boys eventually become batterers.
* Sixty-three percent of boys age 11-20 who commit homicide, murder the man who was abusing their mother. In 50% of the time, if the wife (mother) is being physically abused, so are the children.
Health Care and Productivity Costs
* Data analyzed from the National Crime Survey (1980) of 192,000 assaults in one year resulted in : 39,900 visits to physicians, 21,000 hospitalizations, 99,800 days of hospitalization, and 28,799 emergency department visits. This data revealed Total Annual Health Care Costs of approximately $44.4 million with indirect costs of 175,500 lost days from paid work.
* Each year, more than one million women seek medical assistance for injuries caused by battering.
* Battery is the single major cause of injury to women, exceeding street rape, muggings, or auto accident. Some 2,000 to 4,000 women are beaten to death annually.
* 95% of batterers are men. In heterosexual partner abuse, 95% of the time it is the woman who gets hurt. Battering does occur in lesbian and gay relationships, but no reliable statistics are available about its prevalence. Battering happens in dating relationships -- not just when the couple is married, living together, or having sex.
* At least half of the children of battered women are physically or sexually abused by their mother's assailant. 68% of children witness the assaults; more than 90 % know about the assaults.
* In this country, a women's chances of being assaulted at home by her partner are greater than those of a police officer being assaulted on the job.
* In the United States, 3,000 women are killed each year by their husbands, lovers or boyfriends.
* Women are in greater danger when they are trying to leave their batterers. Homicides often occur after the woman has left her assailant. 70% of all violence occurs after the woman has left her assailant.
* Women perpetrate less than 15% of all homicides. Homicides committed by women are seven times more likely to be in self-defense as homicides committed by men.
* Battering cuts across racial and socio-economic lines. It occurs in middle class and upper class homes, as well as in working class and poor families.
* One out of every three girls and one out of every eight boys will be sexually abused by an adult before they reach the age of 18. Nine out of ten times the perpetrator will be someone the child knows.
* One out of 7 wives is raped by her husband. At least 40% of physically battered women are also sexually abused.
* More than one million abused women seek medical help for injuries caused by battering each year. Twenty percent of visits by women to emergency services are due to domestic violence. Half of all battered women will be beaten in their stomachs when they are pregnant.
* At least half of the time, the perpetrator of domestic violence has an alcohol or other drug problem. Injuries to the woman are likely to be more serious when the perpetrator is using alcohol or other drugs. Alcohol and other drug addiction does not cause domestic violence; the problems must be addressed separately. Stopping the assailants' drinking will not stop their violence.
* The F.B.I. estimates that only 10% of domestic assaults are reported.
* Battering is not caused by stress, unemployment, addiction, poor impulse control or childhood victimization. Violence is a behavioral choice made by one partner to control the other.
* Battering is the single major cause of injury to women--more frequent than auto accidents, muggings and rapes combined.
* Studies have estimated 3 to 4 million American women are battered each year by their husbands or partners. Nearly 6 million U.S. wives are physically abused by their husbands or boy friends during their marriage. Nationally, a woman is beaten every 15 seconds.
* Sixty-six percent of American women will be beaten at least once during their marriage. 25% of U.S. wives are severely beaten during the course of their marriage. 75% of women who are battered are divorced or separated from their abusers at the time of the incident.
* Domestic violence occurs among rural, urban, and suburban women of all ages, ethnic, racial, religious, educational, and socio-economic groups. Approximately 95% of the victims of domestic violence are women.
* In one state study (Minnesota), 63,000 women are abused each year. In Minnesota, there were 18 women killed in 1989; 25 women were killed in 1990.
Physical and Mental Health Statistics
* Twenty-two percent to 35% of all Emergency Room visits by women are related to battering.
* Between 25% and 45% of battered women are abused during pregnancy. A battered pregnant woman is 4 times more likely to have a low-birth weight baby and her chances of miscarriage are double.
* Thirty-three percent of battered women carry a diagnosis/treatment protocol associated with anxiety and depression. 26% of all women who attempt to commit suicide are victims of domestic violence.
* Sixty-four percent of hospitalized female psychiatric patients have a history of being physically abused as an adult.
Domestic Abuse—The Generational Impact
* Boys who witness domestic violence are more likely to batter their female partners as adults than boys raised in nonviolent homes. Of the children who witness domestic abuse, 60% of the boys eventually become batterers.
* Sixty-three percent of boys age 11-20 who commit homicide, murder the man who was abusing their mother. In 50% of the time, if the wife (mother) is being physically abused, so are the children.
Health Care and Productivity Costs
* Data analyzed from the National Crime Survey (1980) of 192,000 assaults in one year resulted in : 39,900 visits to physicians, 21,000 hospitalizations, 99,800 days of hospitalization, and 28,799 emergency department visits. This data revealed Total Annual Health Care Costs of approximately $44.4 million with indirect costs of 175,500 lost days from paid work.
* Each year, more than one million women seek medical assistance for injuries caused by battering.
Church leaders applaud support
The Kaikohe Church Leaders Forum commends the Kaikohe-Hokianga Community Board for recently adopting the Kaikohe Community Development Plan.
The plan has six focus areas – cultural, economic, environment-built, environment-natural, social and spiritual. The areas each have goals set in them.
Of special interest to the forum is the spiritual focus area. Renowned Maori and Pakeha historical figures embraced Christian faith and values, embedded them into the Kaikohe community and left a heritage that is still growing today as seen by the many churches in the town, members say.
The forum believes it is impossible to talk of a spiritual focus of the community without recognising the historical, cultural and contextual role of Christian faith and values.
Members say the majority of residents in Kaikohe may not be regular church goers but they are still affiliated to some form of Christian religion according to the census.
One of the goals of the forum is to promote inter-denominational events to unite the church attendees and promote community leadership around festivals like Christmas, Easter and Matariki.
Another goal is to promote faith-based social support services that strengthen families by addressing issues of marriage, parenting, drug and alcohol abuse, budgeting and gambling addiction, etc.
Members believe churches can have a direct positive influence on the economic, health, emotional well-being, crime and domestic violence statistics by promoting and supporting marriages.
The plan has six focus areas – cultural, economic, environment-built, environment-natural, social and spiritual. The areas each have goals set in them.
Of special interest to the forum is the spiritual focus area. Renowned Maori and Pakeha historical figures embraced Christian faith and values, embedded them into the Kaikohe community and left a heritage that is still growing today as seen by the many churches in the town, members say.
The forum believes it is impossible to talk of a spiritual focus of the community without recognising the historical, cultural and contextual role of Christian faith and values.
Members say the majority of residents in Kaikohe may not be regular church goers but they are still affiliated to some form of Christian religion according to the census.
One of the goals of the forum is to promote inter-denominational events to unite the church attendees and promote community leadership around festivals like Christmas, Easter and Matariki.
Another goal is to promote faith-based social support services that strengthen families by addressing issues of marriage, parenting, drug and alcohol abuse, budgeting and gambling addiction, etc.
Members believe churches can have a direct positive influence on the economic, health, emotional well-being, crime and domestic violence statistics by promoting and supporting marriages.
UC Riverside Walks "A Mile In Their Shoes"
To commence Domestic Violence Awareness Month, a group of over 40 UC Riverside students, staff members, community leaders and members of the the County of Riverside joined together at Olmsted Plaza for the "Walk a Mile in Their Shoes" event last Tuesday, Oct. 4. Sponsored by the Women's Resource Center, the walk brought issues of rape, sexual assault and gender violence into focus within the Riverside community.
Led by UC Riverside student Remie Rahman, a R.E.A.C.H. peer educator at the Well, the symbolic mile-long walk began from Olmsted Plaza, circumvented the Belltower, and extended toward the Rivera Library arches, where representatives from different organizations tabled for the event. Domestic violence statistics were posted in the area, allowing participants to learn about the realities of its prevalence and effects on men and women in the United States.
According to research by the California Department of Justice in 2008, 99 of 113 domestic violence homicides in 2008 were female and the remaining 14 were male. In the United States, a woman is assaulted or beaten every 9 seconds, as reported by the Centers of Disease Control and Prevention in 2006. In the Riverside community, specifically the UC campus, domestic violence has also become an ostensible reality.
Riverside County District Attorney Paul Zellerbach informed participants of the harsh realities of offenses on campus. She stated that in each of the past few years there have been at least five forcible sex offenses reported. Zellerbach said, "In a recent study by a National Institute of Justice, nearly 20 percent of women and 6 percent of men are victims of completed or attempted sexual assault while in college. This is why it is crucial that we as a campus, working with community partners like the Riverside County District Attorney's Office and the Family Justice Center, come together to raise awareness about the prevalence and impact of domestic and relationship violence."
Furthermore, Zellerbach emphasized that many studies show that women are disproportionately at risk of sexual assault during their freshman year. National research has also determined that victims of acts of sexual violence tend to shy away from seeking the help of authorities. Which is why the walk called for greater vigilance from continuing and new students, and aimed to establish an understanding that issues of dating and relationship violence are not just fictitious themes on television shows, but a common reality.
UC Riverside student Annie Orozco attested, "After taking a Women's Studies course and becoming familiar with rape and sexual assault statistics, I learned that the issues really do go unnoticed. I feel that freshman come to college thinking that it'll never happen to them. Riverside isn't the safest area either, so freshmen should know that it isn't a good idea to walk alone at night."
Yasmin Abdi added, "Especially at parties, you always have to be careful. I feel that when freshman go out, it's easy to lose control and then wake up, not knowing what happened the night before, so it's important to be with sober people who can take care of you."
During her 15 years of experience at the Women's Resource Center, the walk's head coordinator and organizer Dr. Adrienne Sims found that domestic and relationship violence are not just present, but prevalent at UC Riverside and on other college campuses. The American Association of University Women, of which UC Riverside is a new member, stated that the physical injury and psychological trauma sustained by victims of attempted or completed sexual assault affect women's pursuit of their educational degrees, leaving a mark on their personal and professional lives.
"At UC Riverside, the most frequent reason that holds students back from reporting relationship violence is ‘I didn't think the incident was serious enough to report,'" Dr. Sims said. "What I want students to understand is that they shouldn't be oblivious to these issues. To help lessen or prevent them, they should exercise caution, put into place certain boundaries, and use the resources available on campus, such as the Women's Resource Center and the Counseling Center for support."
In his closing remarks of the ceremony, Zellerbach stated that the construction of a nurturing environment for victims and prevention of incidences depend on the collective responsibility of the Riverside community. Above all, students should remain cognizant of each other not only to ensure widespread comfort and safety, but to solidify our solidarity with those who have been affected.
Led by UC Riverside student Remie Rahman, a R.E.A.C.H. peer educator at the Well, the symbolic mile-long walk began from Olmsted Plaza, circumvented the Belltower, and extended toward the Rivera Library arches, where representatives from different organizations tabled for the event. Domestic violence statistics were posted in the area, allowing participants to learn about the realities of its prevalence and effects on men and women in the United States.
According to research by the California Department of Justice in 2008, 99 of 113 domestic violence homicides in 2008 were female and the remaining 14 were male. In the United States, a woman is assaulted or beaten every 9 seconds, as reported by the Centers of Disease Control and Prevention in 2006. In the Riverside community, specifically the UC campus, domestic violence has also become an ostensible reality.
Riverside County District Attorney Paul Zellerbach informed participants of the harsh realities of offenses on campus. She stated that in each of the past few years there have been at least five forcible sex offenses reported. Zellerbach said, "In a recent study by a National Institute of Justice, nearly 20 percent of women and 6 percent of men are victims of completed or attempted sexual assault while in college. This is why it is crucial that we as a campus, working with community partners like the Riverside County District Attorney's Office and the Family Justice Center, come together to raise awareness about the prevalence and impact of domestic and relationship violence."
Furthermore, Zellerbach emphasized that many studies show that women are disproportionately at risk of sexual assault during their freshman year. National research has also determined that victims of acts of sexual violence tend to shy away from seeking the help of authorities. Which is why the walk called for greater vigilance from continuing and new students, and aimed to establish an understanding that issues of dating and relationship violence are not just fictitious themes on television shows, but a common reality.
UC Riverside student Annie Orozco attested, "After taking a Women's Studies course and becoming familiar with rape and sexual assault statistics, I learned that the issues really do go unnoticed. I feel that freshman come to college thinking that it'll never happen to them. Riverside isn't the safest area either, so freshmen should know that it isn't a good idea to walk alone at night."
Yasmin Abdi added, "Especially at parties, you always have to be careful. I feel that when freshman go out, it's easy to lose control and then wake up, not knowing what happened the night before, so it's important to be with sober people who can take care of you."
During her 15 years of experience at the Women's Resource Center, the walk's head coordinator and organizer Dr. Adrienne Sims found that domestic and relationship violence are not just present, but prevalent at UC Riverside and on other college campuses. The American Association of University Women, of which UC Riverside is a new member, stated that the physical injury and psychological trauma sustained by victims of attempted or completed sexual assault affect women's pursuit of their educational degrees, leaving a mark on their personal and professional lives.
"At UC Riverside, the most frequent reason that holds students back from reporting relationship violence is ‘I didn't think the incident was serious enough to report,'" Dr. Sims said. "What I want students to understand is that they shouldn't be oblivious to these issues. To help lessen or prevent them, they should exercise caution, put into place certain boundaries, and use the resources available on campus, such as the Women's Resource Center and the Counseling Center for support."
In his closing remarks of the ceremony, Zellerbach stated that the construction of a nurturing environment for victims and prevention of incidences depend on the collective responsibility of the Riverside community. Above all, students should remain cognizant of each other not only to ensure widespread comfort and safety, but to solidify our solidarity with those who have been affected.
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