Fatal child abuse—how preventable is it?

Infant and child homicide rates have remained stable over the last 20 years. They represent the most visible part of the spectrum of fatal child abuse. By contrast, infant mortality and child deaths from accidents and SIDS have all declined. The prevention strategies used to combat these deaths would appear to have been more successful than the protection strategies used against child abuse deaths. International comparisons of infant homicide rates have shown that measures of family stress, available resources and the cultural variables of low status of women and the culture of violence were all associated with increased infant homicide rates. The paper argues for a change in our culture towards children to prevent fatal child abuse.