Child Abuse and Neglect Among American Indian/Alaska Native Children

This study compared the findings of previous research about the incidence of child maltreatment in American Indian and Alaska Native families and analyzed data from the National Child Abuse and Neglect Data System (NCANDS) for this population. The research review revealed significant differences in findings because of problems with definitions and data collection methods. However, most of the previous studies documented a high incidence of neglect, violence, alcohol abuse, and foster care in American Indian and Alaska Native children. Positive trends include a decrease in adoption rates and lower rates of sexual and physical abuse. The secondary analysis of NCANDS …