The Nation - News from April 2, 1989

About 25 million Americans contend they know children they suspect have been physically or sexually abused, according to a Gallup Poll. Eight percent say they themselves were abused as children. The number of reported child abuse incidents has at least tripled in recent years and authorities believe most cases go unreported. Women are more likely than men, 18% and 11%, respectively, to cite personal knowledge of child abuse victims, the latest survey said. Awareness drops sharply by age, with 21% of 18- to 29-year-olds, 16% of 30- to 49-year-olds and 9% of those 50 and older saying they know of children that they believe have been abused. More women (10%) than men (5%) claim to have been personally abused as children.