The Children and Families Agency reported that 48 children under the age of 18 years old died of abuse cases not including murder-suicide in the 2023 fiscal year.

Of the 48 deaths, 33 of the children were under the age of one.

The statistics show there were 8 less reported abuse-related deaths overall compared to the previous fiscal year, but 8 more deaths in the under one age range.

The deaths in the under one category accounted for 68.8 percent of the deaths in the most recent report, the largest percentage in the category since recordkeeping began in 2005.

Within the under one abuse deaths, about half of the children died at one day old and more than 90 percent of the mother and child in these cases were not registered at an institution such as a hospital or government facility.

The most common reason for child abuse death across age ranges was that the guardian did not know how to care for or feed the child.

The family agency said that most of these cases had no connection to a regional or related organization. The agency will work to create an environment where those experiencing unplanned pregnancies can connect to a consultation service.