PROFILE OF MEDICOLEGAL AUPTOSY CASES OF INFANTICIDE IN ETHIOPIA, ST. PAUL’S HOSPITAL MILLENIUM MEDICAL COLLEGE, ADDIS ABABA.

Abstract

Abstract Introduction: Infanticide is unlawful destruction of a child under the age of one year by anyone, excluding the death of fetus during labor. These acts have existed since the dawn of humanity. Homicide is the leading cause of infant deaths due to injury, accounting for almost one third of such deaths in 1996. More than 80 percent of documented homicides in very young children can be viewed as fatal child abuse, and there is strong evidence that both homicides and fatal cases of child abuse are undercounted. Some tribes in the remote valley of the lower Omo River in South West Ethiopia, regularly conduct a practice of infanticide on children who are born out of wedlock. Objective: The aim of this study is to provide comprehensive report on profile of infanticide cases and make better understanding of epidemiology and burden of infanticide cases of medicolegal autopsy and to create awareness and preventive measures. Methods: An institution-based cross-sectional study was conducted at department of Forensic Medicine and Toxicology department of St. Paul’s Hospital Millennium Medical College from November 2021 to October 2022. All cases of live born infants came for medicolegal autopsy with suspect of infanticide which are determined to be homicidal were included in the study by non-probability convenience sampling method. Results; Total of 4,342 cases were subjected to forensic autopsy in SPHMMC, Addis Ababa, Ethiopia, during the study period. Among these, 1.7% (72) were cases of infanticide. Among total of 72 infanticide cases, majority were females accounting for 55.6% (40) and the remaining 44.4% (32) The study also shows that 81.9% (59) of infanticide cases occurred in the first month, neonatal period, and only 18% of the cases occurred beyond neonatal period. Among the total of 72 infanticide cases, 86.1% of the cases were concealed while the remining cases were found dead at home. Among the total of 72 cases, 39 cases (54.2%) were evidenced to be live born by a positive hydrostatic test, 12 cases (16.7%) by presence of milk in the stomach, 8 cases (11.2%) by vital reactions at the umbilical stump. The study identified that act of neglect or omission was identified in 44.5% (32) of the total study population, and not identified in 55.5% (40) of the cases. Key words: Live born, Infanticide, Medicolegal Autopsy