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Case report: repeated neonaticides in Hokkaido
M Funayama1, T Ikeda, N Tabata
1Department of Legal Medicine, School of Medicine, Sapporo Medical University, Japan.
Forensic Science International
|February 1, 1994
Summary
This study examines five cases of repeated neonaticide in Hokkaido, Japan, where mothers killed four or more newborns. Motives included economic hardship and saving face, with legal sentences varying for the mothers involved.
Area of Science:
- Forensic Psychology
- Criminology
- Sociology
Background:
- Neonaticide, the killing of a newborn within 24 hours of birth, is a rare but significant issue.
- Repeated neonaticide by the same mother is exceptionally uncommon, making documented cases crucial for understanding.
- Previous research has primarily focused on single instances of infanticide, with limited data on recurrent patterns.
Observation:
- A decade-long study in Hokkaido, Japan (1983-1992) identified five distinct cases of repeated neonaticide.
- Each case involved a single mother responsible for the deaths of four or more neonates.
- The mothers involved were not diagnosed with mental illness; circumstances included single status or married with absent husbands.
Findings:
- Economic pressures and the desire to maintain social appearances were identified as primary motives for the neonaticides.
- Legal consequences varied, with sentences ranging from 1 year of penal servitude (with a stay) to 30-42 months imprisonment.
- The incidence of repeated neonaticide in this series is notably higher than typically reported in Western countries.
Implications:
- Understanding the socio-economic factors contributing to repeated neonaticide is vital for developing targeted prevention strategies.
- This case series highlights the need for broader cultural and societal considerations in the study of neonaticide.
- Further research is warranted to explore the psychological and social dynamics underlying recurrent neonaticide in different cultural contexts.