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Chapter 26 INFANTICIDE
Chapter 26 INFANTICIDE
INFANTICIDE
Infanticide means killing of an
infant LESS THAN 3 DAYS
OF AGE OR LESS THAN 72
HOURS.
This is intentional killing of
infants.
Infanticide
vs Abortion
What drives a parent to kill a baby?
d. Heartbeat
Cause of Infant death
A-Natural
B-Accidental
C-Criminal
Natural causes :
Prematurity
Asphyxia
Birth trauma
Congenital malformation
Haemolytic disease
Neonatal infection
Early separation of placenta
Pre - eclamptic toxaemia in mother
Infective condition during infancy
Sudden infant death syndrome
Accidental causes during birth:
Injury to mother on her abdomen
Prolapse of cord
Prolonged labour
Twisting of cord around neck
Premature separation of placenta.
Mother’s death.
Accidental causes after birth :
Non rupture of membrane.
Cord around neck
Head injury
Non-availability of nursing care-neonate may die due to
smothering, choking, suffocation, drowning.
Precipitated labour-may cause death of the newborn due to
head injury, suffocation or drowning or bleeding from
umbilical stump.
Criminal causes
1.Acts of Omission
2.Acts of Commission
1.Acts of Omission
or deliberate neglect
Intentional failure to extend those cares to the newborn, that may lead to its death
and may amount to infanticide.
Examples-
A)failure to tie the cord
B)failure to protect the child from being suffocated by linens
C)failure to protect it from exposure of cold or other adverse site.
2).Acts of commission to cause
infant death
Suffocation by Smothering , Gagging, pressure over
chest wall
Strangulation
Drowning
Poisoning
Head injury
Concealed punctured wound-may be caused by nail or
needle through fontanelle, inner canthus of eye.
Cut throat injury
Burying of newborn alive
Burning
Sudden infant death syndrome