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Safely surrendered infants in Los Angeles County: A medically vulnerable population
Author(s) -
Orliss Micah,
Rogers Karen,
Rao Sheela,
DeavenportSaman Alexis,
Imagawa Karen Kay,
Roberts Suzanne,
Rafeedie Jennifer,
Hudson Sharon M.
Publication year - 2019
Publication title -
child: care, health and development
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.832
H-Index - 82
eISSN - 1365-2214
pISSN - 0305-1862
DOI - 10.1111/cch.12711
Subject(s) - abandonment (legal) , harm , population , medicine , environmental health , socioeconomic status , demography , pediatrics , medical emergency , law , political science , sociology
Background As a means to provide safety for a population at great risk of harm through abandonment, every state in the United States now has laws and practices for the safe relinquishment of newborns and infants. However, there is no national database tracking the population of infants surrendered through such programmes, and few states monitor these numbers. The primary aim of this study was therefore to examine the descriptive characteristics of infants who have been safely surrendered in a large, socio‐economically diverse urban area. The secondary aim was to compare them with local population norms to determine whether differences exist and to begin exploring what implications such differences may have for the treatment provided to these infants. Methods A retrospective cross‐sectional study was conducted among safely surrendered infants. Results Over half of the infants had medical issues, and the majority of the infants were surrendered in communities characterized by low median income. Conclusions Preliminary information highlights potential economic, social, and medical risk factors, suggesting that these infants may require increased monitoring and/or specialized care.