Mothers who kill their children: A systematic review of perinatal risk factors

Marta Landoni; Sergio A. Silverio; Chiara Ionio; Giulia Ciuffo; Carolina Toscano; Laria Lega; Estel Gelabert; Goce Kalcev; Alba Roca-Lecumberri; Anna Plaza Estrade; Valeria Brenna; Lluïsa  Garcia- Esteve; Susana  Subirà Alvarez; Anna  Torres Giménez; Alessandra Bramante

doi:10.3280/MAL2022-002004

Mothers who kill their children: A systematic review of perinatal risk factors

Marta Landoni, Sergio A. Silverio, Chiara Ionio^*, Giulia Ciuffo, Carolina Toscano, Laria Lega, Estel Gelabert, Goce Kalcev, Alba Roca-Lecumberri, Anna Plaza Estrade, Valeria Brenna, Lluïsa Garcia- Esteve, Susana Subirà Alvarez, Anna Torres Giménez, Alessandra Bramante

^*Corresponding author for this work

Women & Children's Health

Research output: Contribution to journal › Article › peer-review

2 Citations (Scopus)

Abstract

This review examines the association between the perinatal period and thoughts and behaviours of neonaticide, infanticide, and filicide, highlighting mothers' risk factors. A literature search was conducted on PubMed, PsycINFO, and ScienceDirect, with 2,957 articles screened and 13 determined as eligible for inclusion. Inclusion criteria were: 1) studies on neonaticide, infanticide and filicide; 2) studies conducted on women; 3) studies with perinatal population; 4) original, peer-reviewed studies; 5) studies written in English or Italian language. Single-case reports and qualitative studies were excluded, as were those studies written in any other language, and any studies for which the full-text version could not be obtained (i.e. conference abstracts). Two reviewers independently reviewed titles and abstracts, reviewed relevant articles' full text, and extracted the data. Several individuals and socio-environmental risk factors were identified for neonaticide, infanticide, and filicide during the perinatal period, highlighting the importance of paying particular attention to the mother's well-being in this critical phase. Women who committed neonaticide, infanticide, or filicide faced a variety of challenges in their lives. Such life events might prompt mental health professionals to address the possibility of harmful acts in their patients.

Original language	English
Pages (from-to)	33-61
Number of pages	29
Journal	Maltrattamento e Abuso all'Infanzia: Rivista Interdisciplinare
Volume	24
Issue number	2
DOIs	https://doi.org/10.3280/MAL2022-002004
Publication status	Published - 1 Aug 2022

Keywords

Infanticide
Filicide
Neonaticide
Systematic Review
Risk Factors
Protective Factors
Women

UN SDGs

This output contributes to the following UN Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs)

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10.3280/MAL2022-002004

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Landoni, M., Silverio, S. A., Ionio, C., Ciuffo, G., Toscano, C., Lega, L., Gelabert, E., Kalcev, G., Roca-Lecumberri, A., Plaza Estrade, A., Brenna, V., Garcia- Esteve, L., Subirà Alvarez, S., Torres Giménez, A., & Bramante, A. (2022). Mothers who kill their children: A systematic review of perinatal risk factors. Maltrattamento e Abuso all'Infanzia: Rivista Interdisciplinare, 24(2), 33-61. https://doi.org/10.3280/MAL2022-002004

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title = "Mothers who kill their children: A systematic review of perinatal risk factors",

abstract = "This review examines the association between the perinatal period and thoughts and behaviours of neonaticide, infanticide, and filicide, highlighting mothers' risk factors. A literature search was conducted on PubMed, PsycINFO, and ScienceDirect, with 2,957 articles screened and 13 determined as eligible for inclusion. Inclusion criteria were: 1) studies on neonaticide, infanticide and filicide; 2) studies conducted on women; 3) studies with perinatal population; 4) original, peer-reviewed studies; 5) studies written in English or Italian language. Single-case reports and qualitative studies were excluded, as were those studies written in any other language, and any studies for which the full-text version could not be obtained (i.e. conference abstracts). Two reviewers independently reviewed titles and abstracts, reviewed relevant articles' full text, and extracted the data. Several individuals and socio-environmental risk factors were identified for neonaticide, infanticide, and filicide during the perinatal period, highlighting the importance of paying particular attention to the mother's well-being in this critical phase. Women who committed neonaticide, infanticide, or filicide faced a variety of challenges in their lives. Such life events might prompt mental health professionals to address the possibility of harmful acts in their patients.",

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Landoni, M, Silverio, SA, Ionio, C, Ciuffo, G, Toscano, C, Lega, L, Gelabert, E, Kalcev, G, Roca-Lecumberri, A, Plaza Estrade, A, Brenna, V, Garcia- Esteve, L, Subirà Alvarez, S, Torres Giménez, A & Bramante, A 2022, 'Mothers who kill their children: A systematic review of perinatal risk factors', Maltrattamento e Abuso all'Infanzia: Rivista Interdisciplinare, vol. 24, no. 2, pp. 33-61. https://doi.org/10.3280/MAL2022-002004

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T2 - A systematic review of perinatal risk factors

AU - Landoni, Marta

AU - Silverio, Sergio A.

AU - Ionio, Chiara

AU - Ciuffo, Giulia

AU - Toscano, Carolina

AU - Lega, Laria

AU - Gelabert, Estel

AU - Kalcev, Goce

AU - Roca-Lecumberri, Alba

AU - Plaza Estrade, Anna

AU - Brenna, Valeria

AU - Garcia- Esteve, Lluïsa

AU - Subirà Alvarez, Susana

AU - Torres Giménez, Anna

AU - Bramante, Alessandra

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AB - This review examines the association between the perinatal period and thoughts and behaviours of neonaticide, infanticide, and filicide, highlighting mothers' risk factors. A literature search was conducted on PubMed, PsycINFO, and ScienceDirect, with 2,957 articles screened and 13 determined as eligible for inclusion. Inclusion criteria were: 1) studies on neonaticide, infanticide and filicide; 2) studies conducted on women; 3) studies with perinatal population; 4) original, peer-reviewed studies; 5) studies written in English or Italian language. Single-case reports and qualitative studies were excluded, as were those studies written in any other language, and any studies for which the full-text version could not be obtained (i.e. conference abstracts). Two reviewers independently reviewed titles and abstracts, reviewed relevant articles' full text, and extracted the data. Several individuals and socio-environmental risk factors were identified for neonaticide, infanticide, and filicide during the perinatal period, highlighting the importance of paying particular attention to the mother's well-being in this critical phase. Women who committed neonaticide, infanticide, or filicide faced a variety of challenges in their lives. Such life events might prompt mental health professionals to address the possibility of harmful acts in their patients.

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KW - Filicide

KW - Neonaticide

KW - Systematic Review

KW - Risk Factors

KW - Protective Factors

KW - Women

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DO - 10.3280/MAL2022-002004

M3 - Article

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JO - Maltrattamento e Abuso all'Infanzia: Rivista Interdisciplinare

JF - Maltrattamento e Abuso all'Infanzia: Rivista Interdisciplinare

IS - 2

ER -

Mothers who kill their children: A systematic review of perinatal risk factors

Abstract

Keywords

UN SDGs

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