A combination of simple descriptive statistics, including frequency distributions and cross tabulations with corresponding measures of association and qualitative analysis was used to identify five possible parameters explaining the patterns of reported child maltreatment in these populations. These cultural factors were home country traumas prevalent among refugees, different child-rearing practices, the relative visibility of these populations to social welfare and other public professionals, the relative continuity of social support systems transplanted from countries of origin, and the relative ability to cope with cultural conflicts inherent in being immigrants. 4 tables, 2 notes, and 25 references (Author abstract modified)