Comparing trends in infanticides in 28 countries, 1960–2009

Abstract

The term 'infanticide' refers to the homicide of a child younger than one year old. In this article, we describe infanticide trends in 28 industrialized countries between 1960 and 2009. The analysis is based on the cause of death data from the WHO Mortality Database and national materials. The purpose is to compare those trends in all these 28 countries not to compare countries per se. Cause of death statistics are based on ICD classification. During the review period, ICD classification changed three times. In addition to describing infanticide trends, we will analyse the impact of those changes on statistical infanticide levels, to be sure that changes in trends could be seen as real, not statistical artefacts. According to our analysis, the change from ICD-7 to ICD-9 in 1968-1970 seems to have had some impact on registered infanticide mortality levels in three of the studied countries. In other countries, the changes did not have any general impact on registered infanticide levels. During the period, infanticide rates decreased in almost all European countries, and increased or were stable in most non-European industrialized countries. Even in Europe, there were significant differences in the decreasing trend between countries. We also found some structural variation behind the trend figures, which raised the question of whether the aggregated infanticide levels really describe an identical phenomenon in different countries.

Intra- and extra-familial child homicide in Sweden 1992–2012: A population-based study

“…Globally, the rate of homicides involving victims under the age of 15 years is estimated to be 2 per 100 000 inhabitants, with marked differences across the globe (see Figure 2) (United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime, 2014). In Europe, however, the rates are lowerabout 0.5 per 100 000 inhabitantsin the wake of a substantial decline across many countries on the continent during the past few decades (Ellonen, Kääriäinen, Lehti, & Aaltonen, 2015;Lehti, Kääriäinen, & Kivivuori, 2012;Sturup & Granath, 2015). The mechanisms underlying the decline remain largely obscure; nevertheless, improved living standards, control of human reproduction, changes in routine activities and decreased stigmatization of single-parent households are all factors that are be- lieved to have contributed (Ellonen et al, 2015;Lehti et al, 2012).…”

Neonaticide in the Courtroom – Room for Improvement? Conclusions Drawn from Austria and Finland's Register Review

“…In 2017, the global rate of neonatal mortality was 18 deaths per 1000 live births (UNICEF et al ., ). Aside from the risk of mortality by illness, malnutrition or birth complications, there is also a high risk for an infant to become the victim of a homicide (Ellonen et al ., ). The death of a child at the hands of their parent(s) is commonly referred to as filicide (Resnick, ).…”

“…Forensic psychiatrists argue that neonaticide develops more from fear and social isolation than from ‘cold' premeditation (Linzer Schwartz and Isser, ). The infanticide rate (<1 year) has decreased in most European countries since the 1960s, whereas the neonaticide rate (<24 hours) has remained stable over the decades (Ellonen et al ., ). In Finland and Austria, for example, it comprises between 66 and 80 per cent of all infanticides (Ellonen et al ., ).…”

Evolutionary-rooted models for denial of pregnancy, concealment of pregnancy and pseudocyesis

“…Increased maternal and neonatal risk levels were confirmed by different studies Wessel et al (2003); Haddrill et al (2014); Schultz and Bushati (2015). Neonaticide is also a rare but dramatic consequence of negation of pregnancy Craig (2004); Putkonen et al (2007); Huchzermeier and Heinzen (2015); Oberman (2003); Porter and Gavin (2010); Ellonen et al (2015). Furthermore, the patient -clinician relationship can be impaired if caregivers are insufficiently informed of those syndromes and remain skeptical of the woman's words.…”

“…First research were carried out in an attempt to document the most incomprehensible and the most dramatic cases. As a rare but fatal consequence of negation of pregnancy, neonaticide was explored by different groups worldwide, sometimes from the systematic study of judicial files and without specific interview of the incriminated women Ellonen et al (2015); Friedman and Resnick (2009). The reported results are therefore representative of the most dramatic cases and their extrapolation to other cases of denied or concealed pregnancy must be carried out cautiously.…”