Introduction

1. Evaluating Risk in postpartum Women: Identification and Organization of Maternal infanticide risk factors Collette E. Strosnider| Ana Gamez, Ph.D; Jennifer Aguilar, M.A.| California Baptist University Introduction An 18-year study conducted by the United States Department of Justice found nearly 4,300 children under age one had been murdered (Bureau of Justice Statistics, 1997). Furthermore, Overpeck (2003) reported that in the United States, one child per day is killed via homicide before his or her first birthday. Unfortunately, prevalent rates of child homicide are estimated to be three times higher than what is reflected by vital records because these statistics do not reflect undiscovered cases or misdiagnosed deaths (Bacon, 2004; Emery 1993). Many researchers have attempted to classify filicidal and infanticidal women based on the characteristics of their crime, however, research on the contributing risk variables is scarce. In order to reduce the number of maternal infanticide cases that occur within the United States, the symptomology and variables infanticidal women portray within the first postpartum year require further study. This study offers qualitative data specific to the first postpartum year and the risk variables shared among infanticidal women. H1: Psychological variables will contribute to maternal infanticide risk among American women. H2: Sociocultural variables will contribute to maternal infanticide risk among American women. H3: Biological variables will contribute to maternal infanticide risk among American women. Method A qualitative historical analysis was conducted. Maternal infanticide cases was searched using various online databases within California Baptist University’s library. Delimitations of this study were: the women must have been living within the United States of America, the crime must have been committed by the child’s biological mother, the child must have been older than 24 hours and younger than 12 months at the time of death, and the infanticidal act must have been committed after 1900. The cases that were used during data collection were gathered from Geofferey McKee’s (2006) Why Mothers Kill: A Forensic Psychologist’s Casebook,Michelle Oberman and Cheryl Meyer’s (2008) When Mothers Kill: Interviews from Prison, andother cases found within research studies. While reviewing each case, any risk variable that was presented within the case report was indicated on the author’s developed checklist to signify that the specific variable was evident prior to the woman’s crime. To provide evidence of the presence of certain variables, supporting statements made within the given case study were included on the checklist. Results Results Discussion When assessing a woman at her initial postpartum medical appointment, the data used to develop the assessment needs to be dedicated to the time frame to which it is testing. Since victim age and risk variables within filicide and maternal infanticide crimes differ, using data and conclusions derived from filicide literature to test newly postpartum women may create validity concerns within the assessment. In order to better assist the women at higher risk for infanticide, more research in this area must be conducted. This research will not only improve the work of psychologists, but can also improve medical interventions and knowledge. Having an Improved understanding of the first postpartum year can allow for any needed policy changes, generate more awareness of risk factors, allow for more refined methods of assessment and questioning, provide greater knowledge of the variables that place a woman at a higher risk, and result in an overall higher prevention rate. Further research exploring the postpartum period may assist in the inclusion of formal diagnostic criteria within the DSM. This has many implications: insurance companies will recognize postpartum disorders more readily and provide assistance to those in need, psychologists and psychiatrists will receive better and more specified training, and these disorders will receive more credibility inside and outside of the legal system. During their hospital stay after childbirth, women can be educated about postpartum difficulties. This will provide women with information about the difficulties that may occur during this time. Not only will the women be better prepared, but abnormal symptoms can be discussed and resources can be made available. This proactive approach can increase the awareness of normal and abnormal postpartum symptomology, can educate new mothers and those close to her, and may decrease the stigma that is attached to postpartum difficulties. If one of the greatest risk variables for maternal infanticide is a lack of assistance and support, then society has the opportunity to affect change. This change will occur as a result of greater acknowledge and acceptance of the difficulties that women experience during motherhood. 100% of the women posed a risk based on age Five women were 21 or younger, three were 36 or older 88% of the women had an unhealthy social environment “…first eight weeks after her second child was born, they lived in eleven different places…” “The boyfriend was a drug abuser who physically abused her, and he left her when she was 4 months pregnant.” 63% of the women had multiple children 63% of the women portrayed signs of mental illness “’I was in the house alone with the baby. My mother and sister had gone out for the night. The voices were telling me that I shouldn't be alone in the house…then they double- teamed me with knives and needles and scissors…after they left, I turned around and found my baby was dead. Those people did it.’” “emotional pain was too overwhelming… she could no longer go on living.” 50% of the women had a history of abuse “verbally and physically abused by her parents… sexually molested until the age of ten.” “…when she told her mother about the molestation, she was beaten.” 50% of the women had a history of mental illness “…evidenced a number of severe psychological problems during her young childhood, including hearing voices and chronically banging her head against the wall.” 50% of the women expressed a lack of interest in parenting, or did not want the child “…seemed to have little interest in caring for her baby and would often leave the child alone in his crib in the evenings.” “…sullen, angry that her parents were forcing her to carry the baby to term.” 50% of the women showed evidence of maltreatment toward the child “…he would get rashes because she would neglect to change him.” “’I would give them a cup of Cheerios and have them go about their business… I didn’t pay much attention to the kids.’” 50% of the women’s biological parents were divorced or the women grew up in a single-parent household “…did not know until she was in her teens that her stepfather was not her biological father, although she had suspected it.” 50% of the women were unemployed “When [her son] was expelled…Glenda realized that she would have to quit her job…” Variables confirmed the hypotheses if half or more cases had evidence of the given variable The collection of data supported the three research hypotheses, demonstrated the variables shared by American women who have committed maternal infanticide, and revealed which variables increase risk. In total, eight cases of maternal infanticide were found that fit within the parameters of the delimitations and offered enough information for conclusive statements.