This new study suggests the very frightening idea that the children of our military families are twice as likely to die from child abuse as their non-military peers.  The study covers a 16 year span, so the data is likely not skewed by the recent war that has strained military families even more.  Although limited to North Carolina, the outcome suggests that we need to take a hard look at the pressures on military families.

The North Carolina Child Advocacy Institute released findings from their 16 year study of child abuse deaths.  Statewide, child abuse deaths occurred in 2.2 of 100,000 children.  In the Fort Bragg and Pope Air Force Base populations, the rate was 5 of 100,000 children.  While this study was limited in geography, it suggests that we may have a pervasive issue within military communities, and that the Department of Defense must collect more widespread data and step up education and support services for our military families.