MADISON, Wis. — Infant child abuse cases might trigger the stereotyping of abusers, but a prominent child abuse specialist in Madison said the crime cuts across all demographics and often involves well-intentioned parents.
Child abuse experts said that nationally an average of three children die each day from child abuse or neglect and that at least four out of five child abuse victims in general are abused by at least one parent, often by a parent who lacks simple support during stressful times.
“I certainly see on a day-to-day basis, well-meaning parents who became so frustrated, and made really bad choices in regards to their children. And these are people who clearly love children but just made really horrific choices,” said Barabara Knox, medical director of the University of Wisconsin Health’s Child Protection Program at American Family Children’s Hospital in Madison.