Neonaticide and Infanticide - a Case Series From One Forensic Unit in Croatia

Abstract

Introduction Neonaticide denotesmurder of a child during the first 24 hours oflife; infanticide is the murder of achild under the twelve months of age. Neonaticide is statistical rare delictand is defined as a „privileged murder' according to the Croatian Criminal LawAct. Objective To describe thecases of six women who faced criminal charges for neonaticide and infanticide. Aftera forensic psychiatric assessment of their level of criminal responsibility, thesepatients were considered guilty byreason of reduced sanity and some committed to penale institution and others toambulantory forensic treatment at the Forensic Unit of University Psychiatry ClinicVrapce, Zagreb. Aim To report some riskfactors for neonaticide and infanticide based on psychiatric diagnosis, age ofperpertrator and socio-cultural background. Methods These reports wereanalysed based on content of medical histories and court reports. Results Borderlinepersonality disorder, acute stress reaction, low intelectual capacity, level of education, poverty, younger age and disturbed family relationswere most common among presented neonaticide and infanticide perpetrators atthe Forensic Unit of the University Psychiatry Clinic Vrapce. Conclusion The investigationinto cases of neonaticide and infanticide may offer an insight into the factorsthat may be of relevance in understanding how a mother may come to commitdescribed delicts and enhance the odds for effective prevention. Identifyingrisk factors for neonaticide requires better psychiatric care for the parturient women in maternal wards and further nationwide research andcoordination.