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Child homicide: Speaking of the unspeakable

Date:
April 26, 2016
Source:
PLOS
Summary:
New estimates suggest that homicide could be responsible for just over 1 percent of all neonatal deaths in South Africa. Together with other studies reporting on child homicide from other countries, these findings emphasize the importance of child protection, and highlight a need for cross-sector services to support vulnerable mothers.
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New estimates published in PLOS Medicine suggest that homicide could be responsible for just over 1% of all neonatal deaths in South Africa. Together with other studies reporting on child homicide from other countries, these findings emphasize the importance of child protection, and highlight a need for cross-sector services to support vulnerable mothers.

In the research, Naeemah Abrahams of the South African Medical Research Council, Cape Town, South Africa, and colleagues studied medical and legal data, from a random sample of urban and rural settings across the country, for 2009. The researchers estimated that 454 children (95% Confidence Interval 366-541) under the age of 5 years were killed. Most deaths were in infants aged 0-6 days, with abandonment being the most common method of homicide in this age group.

Obtaining accurate estimates of the occurrence of child homicide is challenging, because causes of deaths may be hard to determine. In an accompanying Perspective, written by authors independent of the research team, Delan Devakumar and David Osrin of University College London, UK note that Abrahams and colleagues used the best methods available to them, culminating in estimates of child homicide that are "substantial." Devakumar and Osrin note that "protecting vulnerable children is a priority" and that primary prevention should be strengthened by work "with adolescent women to provide advice and support on sexual health, contraception, and childbirth."


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Materials provided by PLOS. Note: Content may be edited for style and length.


Journal References:

  1. Delan Devakumar, David Osrin. Child Homicide: A Global Public Health Concern. PLOS Medicine, 2016; 13 (4): e1002004 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pmed.1002004
  2. Naeemah Abrahams, Shanaaz Mathews, Lorna J. Martin, Carl Lombard, Nadine Nannan, Rachel Jewkes. Gender Differences in Homicide of Neonates, Infants, and Children under 5 y in South Africa: Results from the Cross-Sectional 2009 National Child Homicide Study. PLOS Medicine, 2016; 13 (4): e1002003 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pmed.1002003

Cite This Page:

PLOS. "Child homicide: Speaking of the unspeakable." ScienceDaily. ScienceDaily, 26 April 2016. <www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2016/04/160426144413.htm>.
PLOS. (2016, April 26). Child homicide: Speaking of the unspeakable. ScienceDaily. Retrieved March 18, 2024 from www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2016/04/160426144413.htm
PLOS. "Child homicide: Speaking of the unspeakable." ScienceDaily. www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2016/04/160426144413.htm (accessed March 18, 2024).

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