Robert L. Hampton

Child abuse incidence and reporting by hospitals: significance of severity, class, and race.

Estimates from the National Study of the Incidence and Severity of Child Abuse and Neglect suggest that hospitals recognized over 77,000 cases of child abuse between May 3, 1979, and April 30, 1980. Compared to other agencies in the sample, hospitals identified children who were younger, Black, lived in urban areas, and had more serious injuries. Hospitals failed to report to child protection agencies almost half of the cases that met the studys definition of abuse. Discriminant analysis revealed that income, mothers role in abuse, emotional abuse, race, maternal employment, and sexual abuse distinguished the reported from the unreported cases. Disproportionate numbers of unreported cases were victims of emotional abuse and came from families of higher income. Their mothers were more often White and more often alleged to be responsible for the injuries.

Domestic Violence in the African American Community An Analysis of Social and Structural Factors

This article discusses intimate partner violence (IPV) as a major public health issue for women, in particular, African American women. The intersection of IPV and institutional racism doubly victimizes African American women as they try to break out of the cycle of violence. The research shows that IPV in the African American community is more common and violent than in the Caucasian community due to structural, cultural community, and situational contexts, overshadowed by institutional racism, that effect the romantic relationships of African American men and women. Research shows that the anger, hatred, and frustrations of African American men, caused by institutional racism, are being displaced onto their wives and lovers. Suggestions for intervention are presented.

Child abuse: the current theory base and future research needs.

Contained in each causal explanation for child abuse is a theory of etiology. The nature and quality of our knowledge is approached in this paper from a review of studies of the impact of abuse on children, for which a critique of methodology is given. The relation between theory construction, study, and clinical action is addressed. Recommendations with respect to the focus and content of future research are made.

Violence in the Black Family: What We Know, Where Do We Go?

Twenty years ago research on the relationships between domestic violence and culture was not acknowledged as being worthy of scholarly investigation. The prevailing beliefs supported race neutral approaches both for research and for practice and presented obstacles for those who wanted to examine the relationship between race, ethnicity, culture, and violence. It was not only difficult to obtain funding for research studies, but many peer reviewers for leading journals were not supportive of such research as well. Despite the growing literature on domestic violence, significant deficits remained in the research, theory, and practice for families and communities of color (Hampton & Yung, 1996).

Media Habits, Childhood

When the American Bill of Rights was adopted in 1791, the importance of the media to the American lifestyle and culture was irrevocably established. From the simple text, “Congress shall make no law abridging the freedom of speech, or of the press” today, has spawned a multi-billion dollar industry with the capacity to affect the fortunes of every citizen in this country. In an open and democratic society, this feature of public life is critical for our sustained common good. The media serve to unite people; to teach about customs, values, and beliefs; to present news and events; to advocate and investigate; and to entertain in times of peace, and to enable us to rally and mourn in times of tragedy and war.

CHILD ABUSE AND ACCIDENTS: DIFFERENT MANIFESTATIONS OF COMMON ETIOLOGY|[quest]|

The concept of accidents as random events is approached critically in this study comparing 44 abused children to 44 children with accidents, matched on age, race and social class. All were hospitalized and under 5 years. Using a structured, precoded maternal interview and review of medical records, data were gathered on: demographic information, family and disciplinary histories, current social situation, supports and stresses, maternal disposition and approaches towards the child, childs health, temperament and social development.The groups were first compared on individual variables. Those that emerged as significant discriminators were entered into stepwise discriminant function analyses. The resultant profile was examined for its ability to predict between the accident and abuse groups.The majority of variables were similar for the two groups. The major significant differences pertained to social isolation, poverty (despite matching), stresses, paternal history of harsh discipline, and maternal perception of child as sickly, and socially immature. In each area, the abuse group reported the greater difficulties. The findings suggest the need for a broadened classification system for childrens traumatic injuries, to better guide appropriate medical management.