War deployments raise risk of child abuse and neglect

[cynatnite]

CHICAGO - Children in some Army families are vulnerable to abuse and neglect by their mothers when their fathers are away at war in Iraq and Afghanistan, a large Pentagon-funded study finds.

Mothers were three times more likely to have a substantiated report of child mistreatment when their soldier husbands were deployed than when the fathers were home, according to the research. Mothers at home were nearly four times as likely to neglect their children and nearly twice as likely to physically abuse them during deployment periods.

"She leaves the young child alone in the apartment, doesn't get the child off to school in the morning, doesn't keep the house in a livable condition," said lead author Deborah Gibbs of the nonprofit RTI International in Research Triangle Park, N.C., describing typical scenarios.

Army officials said the study confirms what they've seen at large military bases for nearly two years, overwhelmed and depressed mothers neglecting their children.

http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20070731/ap_on_go_ca_st_pe/army_families_abuse

This may have already been posted, but it breaks my heart. :cry:

[BlooInBloo]

1. To say nothing of all the foreclosures on people in the service and such....

Support the troops!

Help is on the way!

Fuckers.