Fatal child neglect.

Child neglect results from either acts of omission or of commission. Fatalities from neglect account for 30% to 40% of deaths caused by child maltreatment. Deaths may occur from failure to provide the basic needs of infancy such as food or medical care. Medical care may also be withheld because of parental religious beliefs. Inadequate supervision may contribute to a child's injury or death through adverse events involving drowning, fires, and firearms. Recognizing the factors contributing to a child's death is facilitated by the action of multidisciplinary child death review teams. As with other forms of child maltreatment, prevention and early intervention strategies are needed to minimize the risk of injury and death to children.