Comparison of the occurrence and nature of infanticide in the 1930s, 1970s and today, in the materials of the Department of Forensic Medicine in Kraków

Aim: Analysis of the frequency of infanticides in years 1930s, 1970s and nowadays. Materials and methods: Section protocols collected at the Department of Forensic Medicine in Kraków from years 1930–1939, 1971–1980 and 2012–2021 were investigated. Cases of infanticides were gathered and analysed. Results: We analyzed 295 cases, 7 from years 2012–2021, 134 from years 1971–1980, and 154 from years 1930–1939. In years 2012–2021, 5 cases were certain infanticides (1 commision – active and 4 omissions – passive), in the other 2 cases, the abandoned carcass of a newborn was thoroughly decomposed. In 1970s, 46 cases were definite infanticides (19 commisions and 27 omissions). In 38 cases, due to significant damage to the corpse, it was impossible to determine the cause of death and to confirm infanticide. We also discovered 5 cases of stillborn, abandoned newborns. In 21 cases, the body of a child whose direct cause of death was the perinatal trauma was abandoned, and in 23 cases abandoned children were underdeveloped; one case was uncategorized. In 1930s, 40 cases were certain infanticides (15 commisions and 25 ommisions). In 30 cases, due to significant damage to the corpse, it was impossible to confirm or rule out infanticide. We discovered 6 cases of stillborn abandoned newborns. In 18 cases, the body of a child whose direct cause of death was perinatal trauma was abandoned, and in 60 cases abandoned children were underdeveloped and therefore unable to survive. Conclusions: Nowadays the infanticides are quite rare, however in 1970s they were quite common, occurring almost as often as in 1930s.