Newborns killed or left to die by a parent: a population-based study

Area of Science:

• Forensic Medicine
• Pediatric Public Health
• Sociology of Family

Background:

• Increased public awareness of infant abandonment and infanticide.
• Legislative responses, including Safe Haven laws, aim to address this issue.
• Need for data on the characteristics of such cases.

Purpose of the Study:

• To characterize cases of newborns killed or discarded by parents in North Carolina.
• To analyze the epidemiological features of these infants and their perpetrators.

Main Methods:

• Case series analysis of infant deaths (0-4 days) reported to the North Carolina medical examiner.
• Data collected from 1985 to 2000.
• Examined incidence, infant demographics, parental characteristics, and causes of death.

Main Results:

• 34 cases identified over 16 years, a rate of 2.1 per 100,000 annually.
• Mothers were the perpetrators in most cases (29/34).
• Common causes of death included asphyxiation/strangulation and drowning; many mothers were young and lacked prenatal care.

Conclusions:

• Infanticide and abandonment of newborns by parents remain a critical issue in North Carolina.
• Safe Haven laws' impact is uncertain; public education is crucial.
• Prevention efforts should target adolescent pregnancy, young adults, and prenatal care access.