Child Maltreatment in Enlisted Soldiers' Families During Combat-Related Deployments

It is important to understand the relationship between deployment and child maltreatment in order to provide the best programs for prevention and intervention. Rates of child maltreatment incidents perpetrated by Active Duty Soldiers or their spouses were compared during deployment and when Soldiers were not deployed. Rates of maltreatment were significantly higher among these families during deployment, particularly neglect and more severe maltreatment incidents.