A massive new federal study has found a significant decrease in serious child abuse in America.

Incidents of serious child abuse have dropped by 26 percent between 1993 and 2006. The biggest drop of 38 percent was for sexual abuse. Other physical abuse dropped by 15 percent.

Experts are hailing the findings as proof that public awareness campaigns and tougher law enforcement efforts had made headway.

The study had been commissioned by the Department of Health and Human Services. It's based on input from thousands of child welfare workers, doctors, police officers, teachers and other professionals across the country.

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