Developmental Trends in the Nature of Child Homicide

Abstract

Child homicide is a frequent cause of death in children under 6 years of age. However, compared to other, less prevalent causes of death, it is poorly understood. There is a need to identify a coherent pattern or set of patterns among cases of child homicide. Child age may be a useful explanatory variable. This study differentiated among neonatal, early, and middle childhood deaths. Neonatal deaths were not related to child behavior, child physiological abnormality, or maternal parity or marital status; they were related to maternal isolation during the birth. Homicidal deaths of infants, toddlers, and preschoolers (early childhood) were usually the result of parental attempts to control child behavior. These deaths appeared to be unintended and related to the physical vulnerability of the child who is smaller than the attacking adult. Deaths of school-age children (middle childhood) resulted most often from gunshot wounds. Few children of any age were unsupervised or killed by strangers. The data suggest that it is difficult, or even impossible, to identify preventively specific cases of incipient homicide. An epidemiological approach to prevention is suggested; means of reducing risk are suggested for each of three age groups.