Wyoming Child Abuse Deaths Well Above National Average

Wyoming children are dying from abuse and neglect at a much greater rate than in surrounding states, according to a new state report. For calendar year 2003, the latest statistical figures available, the report states that Wyoming saw eight child fatalities from neglect or abuse, equating to a rate of 6.61 deaths per 100,000 children. That far exceeds the national average that year of 2 child deaths per 100,000.  The state report draws child fatality figures from Child Maltreatment 2003, a report prepared by the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services. The federal report shows that for 2003, only West Virginia with 7.67 child deaths per 100,000 children had a higher child fatality rate than Wyoming. Source. Ben Neary, Associated Press, Billingsgazette.com. For more information, please click here (last visited November 20, 2005, reo).