Faculty of Education and Health Science, University of Limerick, Limerick, Ireland.
J Psychiatr Ment Health Nurs. 2022 Dec;29(6):813-828. doi: 10.1111/jpm.12828. Epub 2022 Mar 24.
WHAT IS KNOWN ON THE SUBJECT?: The phenomenon of child killing (neonaticide, infanticide or filicide) is a rare event that cannot be fully explained by a single construct as each case involves the unique life circumstances of each woman who committed the act(s). WHAT THE PAPER ADDS TO EXISTING KNOWLEDGE?: The majority of women who committed neonaticide, infanticide or filicide regretted the act and regretted not seeking help from family and healthcare professionals. Women who committed neonaticide, infanticide or filicide in the main had complex circumstances characterised by poverty, abusive relationships, poor family and social support or over reliance on family supports and mental health issues. WHAT ARE THE IMPLICATIONS FOR PRACTICE?: Women require a clear plan of what to do if they feel overwhelmed with caring for a baby or child. Healthcare professionals involved with women in the perinatal period need to explore further women's expressions of "not being ready to be a mother" which for some women may be pathological and require further assessment. Women need to be made aware of the support service pathways available to them during the perinatal period and beyond. Further research is needed to explore and learn from women's experiences to reduce child homicide mortality and support women and their families.
INTRODUCTION: Meaning and personal experiences of the acts of neonaticide, infanticide and filicide have rarely been investigated from the perspectives of the women who committed those acts.
To identify and synthesise evidence on the perspectives of women directly involved in the complex phenomena of neonaticide, infanticide or filicide from the evidence available on their unique point of view and how these experiences have affected women's lives. To understand how the experiences and perceptions of women who engaged in child killing present similarities or differences according to the child's age at time of death.
Qualitative primary studies published in English were included if they explored the experiences of women who engaged in neonaticide, infanticide or filicide. Methodological quality was assessed using the qualitative Critical Appraisal Skills Programme (CASP) checklist. A thematic analysis framework guided the synthesis.
Seven papers reporting on five studies met the inclusion criteria for the review. Three analytical themes were identified: Not ready to be a mother; Intentionality and premeditation in the context of trauma and mental health issues; Sorrow of regret.
The majority of women who committed neonaticide, infanticide or filicide had complex psychological, social and personal circumstances and in the main regretted the act and regretted not seeking help from family and healthcare professionals. Healthcare professionals in contact with women during the perinatal period and beyond need to be aware of the profiles of vulnerable women and undertake holistic integrated assessments to identify the woman's personal context, changes in interpersonal relationships, social isolation or over reliance on family supports and changes in mental health status or new onset of mental health conditions.
Women require a clear plan of what to do if they feel overwhelmed with caring for a baby or child. Healthcare professionals involved with women in the perinatal period need to explore further women's expressions of "not being ready to be a mother" which for some women might be pathological and require further assessment. Women need to be made aware of the support services pathways available to them during the perinatal period and beyond. Further research is needed to explore and learn from women's experiences of each of the phenomena separately to reduce child homicide mortality and support women and their families.
从直接参与复杂的新生儿杀害、婴儿杀害或杀亲现象的女性的独特视角，确定和综合现有证据中关于这些女性行为的意义和个人经历，并了解这些经历如何影响女性的生活。通过了解根据孩子死亡时的年龄，参与杀婴行为的女性的经历和看法有哪些相似或不同之处，来理解这些经历和看法。
纳入探讨参与新生儿杀害、婴儿杀害或杀亲的女性的经验的英文发表的定性原始研究。使用定性关键评估技能计划 (CASP) 清单评估方法学质量。主题分析框架指导综合。
有 7 篇报告了 5 项研究的论文符合审查纳入标准。确定了 3 个分析主题：还没准备好当母亲；在创伤和心理健康问题的背景下的故意和预谋；悲伤和后悔。
大多数犯下新生儿杀害、婴儿杀害或杀亲的女性都有复杂的心理、社会和个人情况，她们在大多数情况下对行为感到后悔，并后悔没有向家人和医疗保健专业人员寻求帮助。在围产期及以后与女性接触的医疗保健专业人员需要意识到弱势女性的特征，并进行全面的综合评估，以确定女性的个人背景、人际关系变化、社会孤立或过度依赖家庭支持以及心理健康状况的变化或新出现的心理健康状况。
如果女性感到难以照顾婴儿或孩子，她们需要有一个明确的应对计划。参与围产期女性的医疗保健专业人员需要进一步探讨女性表达的“还没准备好当母亲”，因为对于一些女性来说，这可能是病态的，需要进一步评估。女性需要了解围产期及以后可获得的支持服务途径。需要进一步研究，从女性的每种经历中吸取经验教训，以降低儿童凶杀死亡率，并为女性及其家庭提供支持。
