CHILD KILLINGS UP IN 2002.

Byline: Troy Anderson Staff Writer

After reaching 10-year lows of 35 child homicides in 2000 and 2001, the number of youngsters killed by relatives and other caregivers rose to 37 in 2002, a report being released today says.

According to the report by Los Angeles County's child-fatality review board, seven children died in 2002 from traumatic injuries, and six others were intentionally poisoned.

Five siblings were asphyxiated by their father, who was distraught over marital problems, officials said. Eight newborns were abandoned or killed by their mothers, and the remaining children died by other means.

Among the victims, 26 were Latino, seven were African-American, two were white, one was Asian and one was of an unknown race.

``Hispanic children were overrepresented in auto-pedestrian deaths and homicides, African-American children were overrepresented in deaths associated with maternal substance abuse and homicides, and Caucasian children were overrepresented in drowning deaths and suicides,'' said Deanne Tilton Durfee, head of the Inter-Agency Council on Child Abuse and Neglect.

From 1989 to 2002, 622 children - an average of 48 a year - were victims of homicides at the hands of family members, foster parents and other caregivers.

Also during that period, 1,331 children died as a result of accidents, including 392 who drowned, 305 who were victims of maternal drug abuse, 165 who were hit by vehicles and 90 who died in automobile accidents.

After reaching decade highs of 137 accidental deaths in 2000 and 2001, the number of accidental child deaths dropped to 127 in 2002, including two who were killed when an airplane hit them.

From 1988 to 2002, 398 children committed suicide, including 19 in 2002, the second-lowest number in the period.

``Each child's story is a painfully sad one and a lesson on how we can prevent these tragedies in the future,'' Durfee said. ``We now have the knowledge and tools to do just that.''

Troy Anderson, [phone]

troy.anderson(at)dailynews.com