Child abuse-related homicides in New Mexico: a 6-year retrospective review.
We retrospectively reviewed autopsy records at a statewide medical examiner's office in order to identify and characterize deaths due to child abuse. In a 6-year period in New Mexico, the medical examiner investigated 45 deaths determined to be child abuse-related. Decedents were predominantly male (68.9%), Hispanic White (53.3%), and all were 5 years of age or younger, with a median age of 1 year. Head injuries were the most common cause of death (44.4%), followed by battered baby syndrome (15.6%). Relatives were involved as alleged perpetrators in 80% of the cases, with the father most often implicated (36.1% of cases), and 88.9% of child abuse injuries resulting in death occurred in the family's residence. Toxicology was positive in 26.7% of cases, but only two cases had substances of abuse present. Information on risk factors such as prematurity, parental age, and history of abuse was also collected.
Lee
Carol K
CK
Office of the Medical Investigator, University of New Mexico, Albuquerque, NM 87131-0001, USA.
Lathrop
Sarah L
SL
D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D017677:Age Distribution; D001497:Battered Child Syndrome / Q000401:mortality; D002649:Child Abuse / Q000401:mortality*; D002675:Child, Preschool; D006259:Craniocerebral Trauma / Q000401:mortality; D017579:Domestic Violence / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D005190:Family; D005260:Female; D005554:Forensic Medicine; D006708:Homicide / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D006801:Humans; D007223:Infant; D007231:Infant, Newborn; D008297:Male; D017533:Marital Status / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D008487:Medical History Taking; D009516:New Mexico / Q000453:epidemiology; D047928:Premature Birth / Q000453:epidemiology; D044469:Racial Groups / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D012307:Risk Factors; D017678:Sex Distribution; D014947:Wounds and Injuries / Q000401:mortality / Q000473:pathology