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. 2019 Feb;22(1):159-164.
doi: 10.1007/s00737-018-0850-1. Epub 2018 May 23.

Repeated neonaticide: differences and similarities to single neonaticide events

Claudia M Klier  1 , Sabine Amon  2 , Hanna Putkonen  3   4 , Paula Fernandez Arias  5   6 , Ghitta Weizmann-Henelius  3   7
Affiliations

Repeated neonaticide: differences and similarities to single neonaticide events

Claudia M Klier et al. Arch Womens Ment Health. 2019 Feb.

Abstract

This study aims to identify differences between single and repeat perpetrators of filicide by using register-based data. The study used register-based, comprehensive, nationwide data from both Austria and Finland. The current study covers 23 perpetrators, 20 single and 3 repeat perpetrators, with a total of 28 victims. All victims had a maximum age of 24 h and all perpetrators were women. Every third victim of neonaticide was a victim of a repeat case. The repeat perpetrators were older; had a higher number of children over their lifespan, some of whom lived with them; were more likely to live within established family structures; had higher levels of education and employment; had a higher proportion of personality disorders; and were more likely to identify stress factors during pregnancy. One unexpected finding was low levels of awareness about pregnancy within the perpetrator's circle remain a risk factor, especially for repeat perpetrators. Arguably, the quality of interpersonal relationships these women have may be affected by their own mental health issues and life experience and vice versa.

Keywords: Child murder; Filicide; Neonaticide; Repeated neonaticide.

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Conflict of interest statement

Conflict of interest

The authors have no financial interests associated with the funding sponsor for this research, and thus, the authors declare that no conflict of interest exists with respect to this work.

Ethical approval

Ethical approval was granted in Austria by the Austrian Ethics Commission, the Department of Justice, and the Medical University of Vienna and in Finland by the Ministry of Social Affairs and Health, the Ministry of the Interior, the Office of the Data Protection Ombudsman, the Ethics Committee for Pediatrics, and the Adolescent Medicine and Psychiatry of Helsinki University Central Hospital. The Austrian Project was funded by the Austrian National Bank (Jubiläumsfonds AP 12200 OENB).

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