Related Experiment Videos
Risk factors for infant homicide in the United States
M D Overpeck1, R A Brenner, A C Trumble
1Division of Epidemiology, Statistics, and Prevention Research, National Institute of Child Health and Human Development, Bethesda, MD 20892-7510, USA.
Insights
Infant homicide, often fatal child abuse, is linked to young maternal age and previous births. Early intervention focusing on at-risk mothers can help prevent these tragic deaths.
Area of Science:
- Pediatrics
- Public Health
- Forensic Medicine
Background:
- Homicide is the leading cause of infant death from injury.
- Over 80% of infant homicides are classified as fatal child abuse.
- This study investigates the timing and risk factors of infant homicide.
Purpose of the Study:
- To assess the timing of infant homicides.
- To identify key risk factors associated with infant homicide.
- To inform potential prevention strategies.
Main Methods:
- Utilized linked U.S. birth and death certificates from 1983-1991.
- Identified 2776 infant homicides within the first year of life.
- Conducted bivariate and multivariate analyses of birth certificate data.
Main Results:
- Half of infant homicides occurred by four months of age.
- Key risk factors included young maternal age (especially <17 or 17-19), previous births, maternal age <15, lack of prenatal care, and lower maternal education (<12 years).
- Relative risks for these factors ranged from 6.8 to 10.9.
Conclusions:
- Early childbearing, particularly with prior births, is strongly associated with infant homicide.
- Findings suggest potential avenues for prevention efforts targeting high-risk mothers.
- Understanding these risk factors is crucial for reducing infant mortality due to homicide.
Background:
Homicide is the leading cause of infant deaths due to injury. More than 80 percent of infant homicides are considered to be fatal child abuse. This study assessed the timing of deaths and risk factors for infant homicide.
Methods:
Using linked birth and death certificates for all births in the U.S. between 1983 and 1991, we identified 2776 homicides occurring during the first year of life. Birth-certificate variables were reviewed in both bivariate and multivariate stratified analyses. Variables potentially predictive of homicide were selected on the basis of increased relative risks among subcategories with adequate numbers for stable estimates.
Results:
Half the homicides occurred by the fourth month of life. The most important risk factors were a second or subsequent infant born to a mother less than 17 years old (relative risk, 10.9) or 17 to 19 years old (relative risk, 9.3), as compared with a first infant born to a mother 25 years old or older; a maternal age of less than 15 years, as compared with an age of at least 25 years (relative risk, 6.8); no prenatal care as compared with early prenatal care (relative risk, 10.4); and less than 12 years of education among mothers who were at least 17 years old (relative risk, 8.0), as compared with 16 or more years of education.
Conclusions:
Childbearing at an early age was strongly associated with infant homicide, particularly if the mother had given birth previously. Our findings may have implications for prevention.