A Retrospective Study of Neonaticides in Shanghai from 2007 to 2013

Abstract

Neonaticide is defined as killing of a newborn within the first 24 hours of life. Neonaticide happens globally. The characteristics and motives of Chinese neonaticide are unknown. This study is committed to outline Chinese neonaticide offenders’ characteristics and primary motives. Neonaticide cases in Shanghai Public Security Bureau (SPSB) were reviewed and analyzed. All offenders were domestic migrants with normal mental status. Neonaticide offenders’ common characteristics such as biological mother, young age, immaturity, being unmarried, low socioeconomic status and having an unwanted pregnancy were confirmed. 18 unmarried offenders were resident in Shanghai under 2 years. Their first sexual experience occurred around coming to Shanghai. The offenses occurred under 2 years after coming to Shanghai due to the stigma of illegitimacy. 2 married offenders were resident in Shanghai over 5 years. They both already had children. They committed neonaticides due to the stigma of giving birth to a female newborn and removal of a burden. Migration, life changes and separation from original families were verified and could be seen as a main factor in the neonaticides. First sexual experience, unwanted pregnancy and neonaticide occurred in unmarried young women under this background. Unwanted baby was primary motive. Unmarried young women with low socio-economic status and recent migration who got unwanted pregnancies are more prone to commit neonaticide. Basic medical care and interventions should be extensively spread in them to improve human beings’ well-beings.