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Variation in homicide risk during infancy--United States, 1989-1998
Insights
Infant homicide is a significant risk, particularly in the first four months of life. The highest risk for infant homicide occurs on the day of birth, highlighting the need for early intervention strategies.
Area of Science:
- Public Health
- Pediatric Medicine
- Forensic Science
Background:
- Homicide ranks as the 15th leading cause of death in infancy in the U.S.
- Infancy presents a higher risk for homicide compared to any other childhood year before age 17.
- The risk of homicide is most pronounced during the initial four months of life.
Purpose of the Study:
- To analyze the weekly risk of homicide during infancy.
- To examine the daily risk of homicide during the first week of life.
- To identify critical periods for infant homicide prevention.
Main Methods:
- Utilized death certificate data from 1989-1998.
- Conducted by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC).
- Analyzed homicide risk patterns across infancy.
Main Results:
- The risk for infant homicide is significantly elevated on the day of birth.
- Homicide risk demonstrates a clear pattern throughout the first week of life.
- Early infancy, especially the first few months, shows the highest vulnerability.
Conclusions:
- Preventative efforts for infant homicide should prioritize the earliest stages of infancy.
- Targeting interventions around the day of birth is crucial.
- Understanding temporal risk patterns is key to reducing infant mortality from homicide.
Abstract:
Homicide is the 15th leading cause of death during the first year of life (i.e., infancy) in the United States. In addition, the risk for homicide is greater in infancy than in any other year of childhood before age 17 years and is greatest during the first 4 months of life. To determine how the risk for homicide varied by week during infancy and by day during the first week of life, CDC analyzed death certificate data for 1989-1998. This report summarizes the results of this analysis, which indicated that risk for infant homicide is greatest on the day of birth. Efforts to prevent infant homicides should focus on early infancy.