Abstract
OBJECTIVE: The purpose of this study was to describe homicides of infants (children <2 years of age) in the U.S. METHODS: Cases were derived from the National Violent Injury Statistics System; 71 incidents involving 72 infant homicides were in the data set. Type 1 involved beating/shaking injuries inflicted by a caretaker; type 2 involved all other homicides (including neonaticide, intimate partner problem-related homicide, crime-related death, and other types). RESULTS: Seventy-five percent of the incidents were type 1 incidents, perpetrated mainly by men (83%; typically the infant's father or the boyfriend of the infant's mother). In 85% of the type 1 incidents, the infant was transported to the hospital, usually at the initiative of the perpetrator or another household member. In almost one half of the type 1 incidents, a false story was offered initially to explain the injuries. In contrast, the type 2 incidents (16 cases) were perpetrated mainly by women (11 of 16 cases) and involved methods such as poisoning, drowning, sharp instruments, or withdrawal of food and water; most infants were not taken to the hospital. Although 93% of incidents were perpetrated by caretakers, the large differences between the 2 incident types suggest different avenues for prevention. CONCLUSIONS: The circumstances involved in the type 1 homicides (beatings by caretakers) suggested that those attacks occurred impulsively, death was unintended, and emergency care was summoned, often with a false story. Previous abuse was suspected in more than one half of those incidents.
| Original language | English |
|---|---|
| Journal | Pediatrics |
| Volume | 124 |
| Issue number | 2 |
| DOIs | |
| State | Published - Aug 1 2009 |
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Keywords
- Child abuse
- Homicide
- Shaken baby syndrome
- Violence
ASJC Scopus subject areas
- Pediatrics, Perinatology, and Child Health
Cite this
Characteristics of infant homicides : Findings from a U.S. multisite reporting system. / Fujiwara, Takeo; Barber, Catherine; Schaechter, Judy L; Hemenway, David.
In: Pediatrics, Vol. 124, No. 2, 01.08.2009.Research output: Contribution to journal › Article
}
TY - JOUR
T1 - Characteristics of infant homicides
T2 - Findings from a U.S. multisite reporting system
AU - Fujiwara, Takeo
AU - Barber, Catherine
AU - Schaechter, Judy L
AU - Hemenway, David
PY - 2009/8/1
Y1 - 2009/8/1
N2 - OBJECTIVE: The purpose of this study was to describe homicides of infants (children <2 years of age) in the U.S. METHODS: Cases were derived from the National Violent Injury Statistics System; 71 incidents involving 72 infant homicides were in the data set. Type 1 involved beating/shaking injuries inflicted by a caretaker; type 2 involved all other homicides (including neonaticide, intimate partner problem-related homicide, crime-related death, and other types). RESULTS: Seventy-five percent of the incidents were type 1 incidents, perpetrated mainly by men (83%; typically the infant's father or the boyfriend of the infant's mother). In 85% of the type 1 incidents, the infant was transported to the hospital, usually at the initiative of the perpetrator or another household member. In almost one half of the type 1 incidents, a false story was offered initially to explain the injuries. In contrast, the type 2 incidents (16 cases) were perpetrated mainly by women (11 of 16 cases) and involved methods such as poisoning, drowning, sharp instruments, or withdrawal of food and water; most infants were not taken to the hospital. Although 93% of incidents were perpetrated by caretakers, the large differences between the 2 incident types suggest different avenues for prevention. CONCLUSIONS: The circumstances involved in the type 1 homicides (beatings by caretakers) suggested that those attacks occurred impulsively, death was unintended, and emergency care was summoned, often with a false story. Previous abuse was suspected in more than one half of those incidents.
AB - OBJECTIVE: The purpose of this study was to describe homicides of infants (children <2 years of age) in the U.S. METHODS: Cases were derived from the National Violent Injury Statistics System; 71 incidents involving 72 infant homicides were in the data set. Type 1 involved beating/shaking injuries inflicted by a caretaker; type 2 involved all other homicides (including neonaticide, intimate partner problem-related homicide, crime-related death, and other types). RESULTS: Seventy-five percent of the incidents were type 1 incidents, perpetrated mainly by men (83%; typically the infant's father or the boyfriend of the infant's mother). In 85% of the type 1 incidents, the infant was transported to the hospital, usually at the initiative of the perpetrator or another household member. In almost one half of the type 1 incidents, a false story was offered initially to explain the injuries. In contrast, the type 2 incidents (16 cases) were perpetrated mainly by women (11 of 16 cases) and involved methods such as poisoning, drowning, sharp instruments, or withdrawal of food and water; most infants were not taken to the hospital. Although 93% of incidents were perpetrated by caretakers, the large differences between the 2 incident types suggest different avenues for prevention. CONCLUSIONS: The circumstances involved in the type 1 homicides (beatings by caretakers) suggested that those attacks occurred impulsively, death was unintended, and emergency care was summoned, often with a false story. Previous abuse was suspected in more than one half of those incidents.
KW - Child abuse
KW - Homicide
KW - Shaken baby syndrome
KW - Violence
UR - http://www.scopus.com/inward/record.url?scp=67749127438&partnerID=8YFLogxK
UR - http://www.scopus.com/inward/citedby.url?scp=67749127438&partnerID=8YFLogxK
U2 - 10.1542/peds.2008-3675
DO - 10.1542/peds.2008-3675
M3 - Article
C2 - 19620199
AN - SCOPUS:67749127438
VL - 124
JO - Pediatrics
JF - Pediatrics
SN - 0031-4005
IS - 2
ER -