Background Homicide is the leading cause of infant deaths dueto injury. More than 80 percent of infant homicides are consideredto be fatal child abuse. This study assessed the timing of deathsand risk factors for infant homicide.
Methods Using linked birth and death certificates for all birthsin the U.S. between 1983 and 1991, we identified 2776 homicidesoccurring during the first year of life. Birth-certificate variableswere reviewed in both bivariate and multivariate stratifiedanalyses. Variables potentially predictive of homicide wereselected on the basis of increased relative risks among subcategorieswith 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 subsequentinfant born to a mother less than 17 years old (relative risk,10.9) or 17 to 19 years old (relative risk, 9.3), as comparedwith a first infant born to a mother 25 years old or older;a maternal age of less than 15 years, as compared with an ageof at least 25 years (relative risk, 6.8); no prenatal careas compared with early prenatal care (relative risk, 10.4);and less than 12 years of education among mothers who were atleast 17 years old (relative risk, 8.0), as compared with 16or more years of education.
Conclusions Childbearing at an early age was strongly associatedwith infant homicide, particularly if the mother had given birthpreviously. Our findings may have implications for prevention.
Source Information
From the Division of Epidemiology, Statistics, and Prevention Research, National Institute of Child Health and Human Development.
Address reprint requests to Dr. Overpeck at the National Institute of Child Health and Human Development, Bldg. 6100, Rm. 7B03, 9000 Rockville Pike MSC 7510, Bethesda, MD 20892-7510.
Risk Factors for Infant Homicide
West S., Mendlowicz M. V., Jean-Louis G., Hami S., Goldstein R. D., Overpeck M. D., Trumble A. C., Berendes H. W., Brenner R. A., Wissow L. S.
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N Engl J Med 1999;
340:895-897, Mar 18, 1999.
Correspondence
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