The Increasing Social Problem: Abandoned Babies

The Increasing Social Problem: Abandoned Babies | Research Square window.SnipcartSettings = { analytics: { enabled: false } }; (function() { var accessVector = localStorage.getItem('access_vector') || ''; window.dataLayer = window.dataLayer || []; if (accessVector) { window.dataLayer.push({ user: { profile: { profileInfo: { snid: accessVector } } } }); } })(); (function(w,d,s,l,i){w[l]=w[l]||[];w[l].push({'gtm.start':new Date().getTime(),event:'gtm.js'});var f=d.getElementsByTagName(s)[0],j=d.createElement(s),dl=l!='dataLayer'?'&l='+l:'';j.async=true;j.src='https://www.googletagmanager.com/gtm.js?id='+i+dl;f.parentNode.insertBefore(j,f);})(window,document,'script','dataLayer','GTM-K279D39R'); Browse Preprints In Review Journals COVID-19 Preprints AJE Video Bytes Research Tools Research Promotion AJE Professional Editing AJE Rubriq About Preprint Platform In Review Editorial Policies Our Team Advisory Board Help Center Sign In Submit a Preprint Cite Share Download PDF Article The Increasing Social Problem: Abandoned Babies Fatih Kurt, Abdullah Akcil, Sinan Taş, Sengul Cangur, Abdulkadir Kaya This is a preprint; it has not been peer reviewed by a journal. https://doi.org/ 10.21203/rs.3.rs-6597013/v1 This work is licensed under a CC BY 4.0 License Status: Under Review Version 1 posted 15 You are reading this latest preprint version Abstract Objective Newborn abandonment is a significant public health issue with both ethical and societal implications. Various socioeconomic factors contribute to the incidence of infant abandonment. The mortality rate is particularly high among infants not left in a safe environment. Many countries have developed various abandonment mechanisms to ensure the safety of abandoned newborns. Study Design: Retrospective, comparative study Setting: Tertiary referral hospital Materials and methodology: This study included 30 newborns abandoned by their families as the case group, and 24 newborns born around the same time who were not abandoned as the control group. The sociodemographic characteristics of the families and clinical data of the newborns were evaluated retrospectively. Results The rates of cigarette, alcohol, and substance use among the mothers and fathers of abandoned infants were significantly higher than those in the control group. In addition, the unemployment rate among fathers was higher in the case group. Prematurity and the need for neonatal intensive care unit (NICU) admission were more common among abandoned infants. The rate of parents living together was significantly lower in the case group compared to the control group. According to risk analysis, parental separation was identified as the strongest risk factor, increasing the likelihood of newborn abandonment by 184.6 times. Conclusion These findings are important for identifying at-risk populations for newborn abandonment and for developing targeted preventive social and healthcare policies. The study aims to contribute to the formulation of effective strategies to prevent newborn abandonment. Humanities/Health humanities Humanities/Medical humanities Social science/Sociology Abandoned babies newborns separation of parents drug addiction unemployment Introduction The abandonment of new-borns has been a phenomenon observed throughout history in various social and cultural contexts. For mothers who are unwilling or unable to take on the responsibility of raising their infants, abandonment has sometimes been seen as a solution born out of desperation. In contemporary times, especially in low-income countries such as India, Southeast Asia, and Sub-Saharan Africa, as well as in middle- to high-income countries such as Malaysia, an increase in the number of abandoned infants has been observed. These infants are defined as individuals who do not live with one or both of their parents and are exposed to risks such as poverty, stigmatization, discrimination, and inequality of opportunity (1,2). There are numerous social, psychological, and economic reasons behind infant abandonment. The primary reason for abandonment has been identified as the mother's sense of isolation and lack of social support. A study conducted in our country revealed that the most significant cause of infant abandonment is societal pressure. Other contributing factors include extramarital relationships, pregnancies resulting from sexual assault, abandonment by the partner, the mother's young age, low educational level, financial difficulties, and the desire to maintain a certain lifestyle (3,4). In recent years, parallel to the increase in drug addiction, there has also been a significant increase in cases of newborn abandonment (5). Infant abandonment is generally classified into three categories: "abandoned infants," who are left in the hospital immediately after birth; "boarder babies," who are taken home after birth and then brought back to the hospital within 12 months; and "discarded infants," who are left in public areas without supervision. In many countries, various legal and institutional mechanisms have been developed to ensure the safety of abandoned infants. For example, under the "Safe Haven Law" in the United States, parents can safely leave their infants at hospitals, fire stations, or police stations. In countries such as Italy, Germany, Austria, and Poland, special facilities known as "baby windows" allow mothers to safely leave their infants at secure locations near hospitals (6). However, newborns who are not left in safe institutions face a significantly high risk of mortality. Unsupervised and dangerous locations, such as toilets, trash bins, and water channels, are among the most common places where infants are abandoned. A study conducted in the United States reported that 82% of infants who were not left in a safe institution died within the first day (3). This study aims to identify the risk factors leading to newborn abandonment by retrospectively examining the clinical characteristics of newborns abandoned in hospitals and the sociodemographic data of their parents. Materials and methodology The study included 30 newborns who were born between January 2018 and January 2025 at Düzce University Application and Research Hospital and were abandoned by their families and subsequently delivered to the Social Services and Child Protection Agency. A control group of 24 randomly selected newborns who were born around the same time as the study group but were not abandoned by their families was also included. The sociodemographic characteristics of the families (age, occupation, education level, economic status, smoking, alcohol, and substance use, the number of pregnancies, and parental cohabitation), the father's awareness of the pregnancy, gestational age, birth weight, mode of delivery, sex, need for neonatal resuscitation, need for neonatal intensive care, and whether the newborn developed signs of withdrawal syndrome were retrospectively evaluated. Patients with congenital anomalies, chromosomal abnormalities, or metabolic disorders were excluded from the study to eliminate potential confounding factors and ensure group comparability. Statistical analysis Quantitative variables are presented as the means ± standard deviations or medians (IQRs: interquartile ranges), whereas qualitative data are presented as numbers and percentages. The normality assumption of quantitative variables was examined with the Shapiro‒Wilk test. Student’s t test and the median test were used for intergroup comparisons of quantitative variables. Pearson’s chi-square test (post hoc: Bonferroni-corrected z ratio test), Fisher’s exact test (post hoc: Bonferroni-corrected z ratio test), and Fisher–Freeman–Halton test were applied for comparisons of categorical variables. Mantel‒Haenszel test statistics and simple logistic regression analysis were applied for the odds ratio (OR) predictive values ​​and confidence intervals of all risk factors found to be significant. SPSS 22 was used for the statistical analyses, and p < 0.05 was considered statistically significant. Results A total of 54 mothers participated in the study, with 55.6% (n = 30) forming the group of mothers with abandoned infants and 44.4% (n = 24) forming the control group. The mean age of the participating mothers was 27.9 ± 7.4 years (range: 16–45). Among the mothers who abandoned their infants, 43.3% had completed elementary school, 31% were employed, 93.3% smoked, 63.3% consumed alcohol, 36.7% used drugs, 96.7% had no known health conditions, and 76.9% reported poor economic conditions. The descriptive statistics of the demographic characteristics of the mothers in the abandoned infant and control groups are detailed in Table 1. There were significant differences between the groups regarding the mother's educational level, age, employment status, presence of illness, family relations of the mother and father, economic status, gravida, parity, maternal use of cigarettes, alcohol, and drugs, presence of the mother and father together, and gestational age (p < 0.05, Table 1). Compared with those in the control group, the rates of smoking (93.3%), alcohol consumption (63.3%), and drug use (36.7%) were significantly greater in the mothers with abandoned infants (p < 0.05, Table 1). Additionally, the gestational age of the mothers in the abandoned infant group was significantly lower than that of the mothers in the control group. Maternal smoking, alcohol and drug use, the absence of mothers and fathers living together, and lower gestational age were found to increase the risk of infant abandonment by 1.40-184.69 times. The demographic characteristics of the fathers of the infants in both groups are presented in Table 2. Among the fathers of the abandoned infants, 40% had completed high school, 57.1% were unemployed, 100% smoked, 78.6% consumed alcohol, 50% used drugs, and 33.3% were reported by the mothers as being unaware of the infant. There were significant differences between the groups in terms of father's employment status; knowledge of the infant, smoking, alcohol and drug use; and father's education and age (p < 0.05, Table 2). Compared with those in the control group, the unemployment rate (57.1%), smoking rate (100%), alcohol consumption rate (78.6%), and drug use rate (50%) were significantly higher among fathers in the abandoned infant group (p < 0.05). Fathers’ unemployment, smoking, alcohol and drug use, and lack of awareness of the infant were found to increase the risk of infant abandonment by approximately 25.10–84.33 times. The demographic and clinical characteristics of the infants in the abandoned and control groups are presented in Table 3. Sixty percent of the abandoned infants were born through normal spontaneous vaginal delivery (NSVD), 66.7% were male, 43.3% were admitted to the neonatal intensive care unit (NICU), and only 6.7% experienced withdrawal symptoms. There were significant differences between the groups regarding birth method, birth weight, and NICU admission status, except for sex, resuscitation requirements, and withdrawal status (p < 0.05, Table 3). In the group of abandoned infants, the proportions of those born through NSVD (60%) and those admitted to the NICU (43.3%) were significantly greater than those in the control group (p < 0.05). Furthermore, the birth weights of the abandoned infants were significantly lower than those of the control infants. Normal vaginal delivery and NICU admission increased the risk of infant abandonment by approximately 7.52 and 3.82 times, respectively. Since the odds ratio (OR) for low birth weight was approximately 1, it can be concluded that low birth weight does not have a significant effect on the likelihood of infant abandonment. The odds ratios (ORs) and 95% confidence intervals for each risk factor influencing the likelihood of infant abandonment are presented in the graph in Fig. 1. Discussion The abandonment of new-borns is emerging as a significant public health concern that has been increasing in prevalence and leading to serious societal consequences. Although the literature includes a limited number of studies on abandoned infants, we did not find any research that directly compared abandoned newborns with a control group. The aim of this study was to identify potential risk factors associated with newborn abandonment by analyzing the sociodemographic characteristics of parents and the clinical features of infants. In our study, the rates of cigarette, alcohol, and substance use among the mothers of abandoned newborns were significantly greater than those in the control group. Similarly, unemployment, along with cigarette, alcohol, and substance use, was significantly more common among fathers of abandoned infants. The gestational age of abandoned newborns was lower, and the cohabitation rate of their parents was markedly lower than that of the control group. According to the risk analysis, the most prominent risk factor for newborn abandonment was parents not living together, which increased the risk by 184.6 times. These findings demonstrate that the socioeconomic status and lifestyle habits of parents are critical determinants of newborn abandonment. Additionally, the higher rate of admission to neonatal intensive care units among abandoned infants suggests that this group is at greater medical risk during the postnatal period. In a study conducted in Türkiye by Yücel et al., 37.3% of abandoned infants were reported to be premature, with a mean gestational age of 36.4 weeks, and 62.7% were delivered via vaginal birth. The same study reported a mean birth weight of 2,735 ± 777.03 grams (range: 660–3,950 g) (4). In another study by Sattarova et al., 19.73% of abandoned newborns were found to have low birth weights (7). Similarly, in our study, the mean gestational age in the case group was 36.9 ± 2.8 weeks, and the mean birth weight was 2,755.5 ± 588 grams. However, 50% of the infants in our case group were born prematurely. With respect to the mode of delivery, 60% of the cases in our study were delivered via normal vaginal delivery, which is consistent with the literature. When comparing the case and control groups, vaginal delivery was found to be significantly more common in the case group. Additionally, gestational age was significantly shorter, and birth weight was significantly lower in the case group. This may be attributed to several factors, including the lack of physical and social support experienced by mothers who abandon their babies during pregnancy, insufficient prenatal care, irregular sexual activity, and possible infections—each potentially contributing to early onset of labor, resulting in a higher rate of prematurity and lower birth weight. As a consequence of these factors, our study revealed that abandoned newborns had a significantly greater need for neonatal intensive care unit (NICU) admission than did control newborns. In the literature, it has been reported that mothers who abandon their babies are generally young, unmarried, and healthy individuals and that these pregnancies are often their first (8). Similarly, a study examining mothers who committed neonaticide described a maternal profile with comparable sociodemographic characteristics (9). All of the mothers in the case group included in our study were healthy individuals. Among them, 36.6% were 24 years old or younger, and 56.6% were experiencing their first pregnancy. However, no statistically significant differences were found between the case and control groups in terms of maternal age or parity. This may be related to the generally younger age at marriage and childbearing observed in our society. In a study conducted by Liakh et al., only 10% of the mothers who had abandoned or intended to abandon their babies were married (10). Other studies in the literature on infant abandonment have emphasized that the most prominent common factor is maternal isolation and a lack of social support (3). In our study, only 20% of the parents in the case group were living together, and only one couple was legally married. In contrast, all parents in the control group were legally married and cohabiting. There was a statistically significant difference between the case and control groups in terms of cohabitation status. Furthermore, risk analysis identified noncohabitation of parents as the most significant risk factor for newborn abandonment, increasing the likelihood of abandonment by 184.69 times. In the same study, 41.6% of the mothers reported having an educational level of elementary school or below, whereas only 10% were university graduates. Research has indicated that the risk of infant abandonment increases as maternal educational level decreases (4). In our study, 10% of the mothers in the case group had received no formal education, 43.3% had completed primary education, and 13.3% were university graduates. These findings are consistent with the literature. However, when the case and control groups were compared, no statistically significant difference was observed in terms of educational level. This may be related to the overall lower educational attainment still present in the general population. In the study conducted by Yücel et al., alcohol and substance use were also identified as significant risk factors for infant abandonment (4). In the study by Liakh et al., 83.3% of mothers were reported to be smokers, 64.3% consumed alcohol, and 19% used illicit drugs (10). In our study, 93.3% of the mothers in the case group reported smoking, 63.3% consumed alcohol, and 36.7% used illicit substances. The higher rate of substance use observed in our study than in the literature may be because the study by Liakh et al. was conducted in 2019. A study conducted in Türkiye reported a significant increase in drug use among women aged 18–24 years during and after the COVID-19 pandemic (11). Compared with those in the control group, the rates of cigarette, alcohol, and substance use were significantly higher among mothers in the case group. These findings support the notion that tobacco, alcohol, and substance dependence are important risk factors associated with newborn abandonment. In the study conducted by Lee et al., the majority of mothers who abandoned their infants were reported to be young adults with limited financial resources (12). In our study, 70% of the mothers in the case group were unemployed, and 76.9% described their financial situation as poor. Among the working mothers, only two had regular employment, while the rest were engaged in low-income daily jobs. No statistically significant difference was found between the case and control groups in terms of unemployment rates or perceived economic status. This may reflect the broader issue of the limited participation of women in the labor market within our society. Research on fathers of abandoned infants in the literature is lacking. To address this gap, we aimed to include paternal data in our study; however, father-related information could not be obtained for all infants in the case group. In some instances, mothers were unaware of the father's identity, whereas in others, they chose not to disclose it. In cases where information was available, fathers reported significantly higher rates of smoking, alcohol, and substance use than did the control group. In a study by Zahra et al., high-risk behaviors such as substance abuse and risky sexual practices were reported to be common among some adolescents and young adults (13). It is believed that unwanted pregnancies resulting from such high-risk behaviors may lead to infant abandonment. In the study conducted by Nolte-Troha et al., substance use was found to be significantly more prevalent among unemployed individuals. Researchers have concluded that unemployment is a risk factor for substance abuse and vice versa (14). Similarly, in our study, the unemployment rate among fathers in the case group was 57.1%, which was significantly higher than that in the control group. Further analysis revealed that paternal unemployment increased the risk of newborn abandonment by 64.08 times. This finding suggests that unemployment and associated financial hardship may undermine a mother's belief in her ability to provide adequate care for her child, thereby increasing the likelihood of abandonment. Infant abandonment is significantly influenced by cultural and religious norms, as highlighted in the literature. A study conducted in Poland by Olejarz et al. reported that the majority of the population adhered to Catholic Christianity, reinforcing strict societal attitudes toward sexuality and pregnancy, with abortion being prohibited. In this context, mothers may abandon their infants due to social pressure in cases of unwanted pregnancies (15). In some societies, the sex of the infant may also lead to abandonment or even infanticide. A study in Denmark reported that 66.6% of abandoned infants were female. Similarly, in China and India, most reported infanticide cases involve female newborns (16). In the study by Yücel et al., 55.2% of the abandoned infants were girls (4). In contrast, a study conducted in North Carolina reported that 58.8% of abandoned or killed infants were male (8). In our study, 66.6% of the infants in the case group were male; however, no statistically significant difference was found between the groups in terms of sex. This suggests that, in our study, infant abandonment was not influenced by the baby’s sex. In Nigeria, owing to cultural myths and beliefs, infants with early tooth eruption may be considered cursed or associated with witchcraft and consequently abandoned by their families. Some reports indicate that when upper incisors erupt before lower incisors erupt, such infants may even be killed due to societal beliefs (17). Similarly, a Russian study noted that illegitimate relationships are heavily stigmatized, which may also lead to infant abandonment (18). In our study, none of the mothers reported abandoning their infants due to superstitions such as curses or witchcraft, as seen in Nigeria. However, some mothers admitted to abandoning their infants due to fear of societal condemnation. Conclusion This study, the sociodemographic and clinical characteristics of abandoned newborns were examined, and risk factors were identified through comparative analyses with a control group. The findings indicate that newborn abandonment is a complex issue driven not only by individual factors but also by broader social and systemic causes. Therefore, it is essential to enhance preventive healthcare services for at-risk groups, expand social policy support, and implement public awareness initiatives. Developing multidisciplinary approaches will play a key role in providing sustainable solutions to prevent this problem. Limitations The main limitations include a small sample size, data collected from a single region, and a retrospective design, which may lead to missing or biased information. The observational nature of the study limits causal interpretation, and deeper psychological or cultural influences could not be fully explored. Declarations Ethics approval and consent to participate: The study was conducted in accordance with the Declaration of Helsinki, and approved by Düzce University Faculty of Medicine Ethics Committee (Decision no: 2024/62 Approval Date: 01.04.2024). Consent for publication: Informed consent was obtained from all the subjects involved in the study. Availability of data and materials: Study data will be shared if requested. Competing interests: The authors declare that they have no conflicts of interest. Funding: This research received no external funding. Acknowledgements: Not Applicable. References Guha A, Rai A, Gupta D, Mondal R. Abandoned Babies at Tertiary Care Rural Medical College Hospital: The Indian Scenarios. Indian J Pediatr. 2019 Apr;86(4):335–339. Razali S, Kirkman M, Ahmad SH, Fisher J. Infanticide and illegal infant abandonment in Malaysia. Child abuse & neglect 2014;38:1715-24. Bradley D. Perspectives on newborn abandonment. Pediatric emergency care. 2003; 19(2): 108 − 11. Yücel H, Demirel N, Baş AY, Ulubaş Işık D, Kulalı F, Mollamahmutoğlu L, Duyan Çamurdan A. A Sociodemographic Analysis of Mothers who Abandoned their Newborn Babies: A Single-Center Study. Türkiye Çocuk Hastalıkları Dergisi. 2021; 15(2): 150-4. Elbayitev S, Çakır U. Hastanede doğum sonrasında terkedilen bebeklerinin demografik ve klinik özellikleri–tek merkez deneyimi. Jinekoloji-Obstetrik ve Neonatoloji Tıp Dergisi. 2022; 19(4): 1532-5. Ferrara P, Gatto A, Paolillo P, Vena F, Ianniello F, Romagnoli C. Abandoned newborn: neglected phenomenon. Early Human Development. 2013; 89S4: 45 − 6. Sattarova S, Öncel MY, Üstün H, Gencay SK, Engür D. Social and medical characteristics of neonates who were abandoned in a tertiary maternity hospital in Turkey. Turk Arch Pediatr. 2023;58(5):480-4. Herman-Giddens ME, Smith JB, Mittal M, Carlson M, Butts JD. Newborns killed or left to die by a parent: a population-based study. JAMA. 2003 Mar 19;289(11):1425-9. Makhlouf F, Rambaud C. Child homicide and neglect in France: 1991–2008. Child Abuse Negl. 2014 Jan;38(1):37–41. Liakh T, Hevchuk N. Problems of women with high risk of abandonment of a newborn. In: Society. Integration. Education. Proceedings of the International Scientific Conference; 2019 May; Rezekne, Latvia. Vol. 3. p. 273–83. Öztürk YE, Yeter O, Ateş I. Changes in the frequency and pattern of drugs detected among suspected drug users during the COVID-19 pandemic in Turkey. Int J Legal Med. 2022;136(5):1273–9. Lee SA, Kim HS. A study on the social perceptions of the baby box and infant abandonment. J Korean Soc Matern Child Health. 2019;23(1):13–22. Bagheri Z, Boroumandfar Z, Shirazi M. Self-care needs in the domains of knowledge, attitude and performance of adolescent girls with regard to drug addiction and risky sexual behaviors in Iran. Iran J Nurs Midwifery Res. 2021;26(5):411–6. Nolte-Troha C, Roser P, Henkel D, Scherbaum N, Koller G, Franke AG. Unemployment and substance use: An updated review of studies from North America and Europe. Healthcare (Basel). 2023 Apr;11(8):1182. Olejarz S. Ethical concerns relating to child abandonment and baby hatches: The case of Poland. J Philos Ethics Health Care Med. 2017;11:41–61. Gheorghe A, Banner J, Hansen SH, Stolborg U, Lynnerup N. Abandonment of newborn infants: a Danish forensic medical survey 1997–2008. Forensic Sci Med Pathol. 2011;7:317–21. Oyapero A, Oyapero O. Abandonment of a neonate with natal tooth. Niger J Clin Med. 2014;6(1):55–60. Bezrukova ON, Samoylova VA. “Invisible” mothers: Social profile of women abandoning their newborn babies. В РОССИЙСКОМ ОБЩЕСТВЕ. 2022;58. Additional Declarations No competing interests reported. Cite Share Download PDF Status: Under Review Version 1 posted Editorial decision: Revision requested 09 Nov, 2025 Reviews received at journal 29 Sep, 2025 Reviewers agreed at journal 16 Sep, 2025 Reviewers agreed at journal 15 Sep, 2025 Reviews received at journal 31 Aug, 2025 Reviewers agreed at journal 29 Aug, 2025 Reviewers agreed at journal 24 Aug, 2025 Reviewers agreed at journal 07 Aug, 2025 Reviews received at journal 05 Aug, 2025 Reviewers agreed at journal 04 Aug, 2025 Reviewers invited by journal 02 Aug, 2025 Editor invited by journal 14 Jun, 2025 Editor assigned by journal 14 Jun, 2025 Submission checks completed at journal 02 Jun, 2025 First submitted to journal 05 May, 2025 You are reading this latest preprint version Research Square lets you share your work early, gain feedback from the community, and start making changes to your manuscript prior to peer review in a journal. As a division of Research Square Company, we’re committed to making research communication faster, fairer, and more useful. We do this by developing innovative software and high quality services for the global research community. Our growing team is made up of researchers and industry professionals working together to solve the most critical problems facing scientific publishing. Also discoverable on Platform About Our Team In Review Editorial Policies Advisory Board Help Center Resources Author Services Accessibility API Access RSS feed Manage Cookie Preferences © Research Square 2026 | ISSN 2693-5015 (online) Privacy Policy Terms of Service Do Not Sell My Personal Information {"props":{"pageProps":{"initialData":{"identity":"rs-6597013","acceptedTermsAndConditions":true,"allowDirectSubmit":false,"archivedVersions":[],"articleType":"Article","associatedPublications":[],"authors":[{"id":497346773,"identity":"599151f1-7eef-4bc5-9f1c-bb36af92eb9d","order_by":0,"name":"Fatih Kurt","email":"data:image/png;base64,iVBORw0KGgoAAAANSUhEUgAAAZAAAAAyAQMAAABI0h/eAAAABlBMVEX///8AAABVwtN+AAAACXBIWXMAAA7EAAAOxAGVKw4bAAAA+klEQVRIie3RMYvCMBTA8VcKdnlH1zjdJziIFCpixQ/iUhHqVDx3OeJSF28/P4cgjpEHToWuHZV+AcVJXEwU7m5puzrkPyWQH48kACbTC+YIAAKpl5bgZ/FYzGUVQWk/CYItpysBTNtaYj9JI7y8PQhANXGyHX2mNOkDtta9bfD1sSA1ZRYMSgmOgH5y6iwBPS9OI+anQ0X2USxKSB8UwRNxBPS9OCHmS0UsQaUE3eKXtG8dTbJjDWF6Sq5JI/QsTfK6KazghOmYq6eTre8kam5yNSWsuAu6w+KC+y53hPrKaxK4fjY+Hk6zoJT89X74twlrj5tMJpOpqjvwy2FZy3Go2AAAAABJRU5ErkJggg==","orcid":"","institution":"Duzce University","correspondingAuthor":true,"prefix":"","firstName":"Fatih","middleName":"","lastName":"Kurt","suffix":""},{"id":497346774,"identity":"14d3fbdb-5359-4ccf-901a-b32c4a20c14d","order_by":1,"name":"Abdullah Akcil","email":"","orcid":"","institution":"Sakarya Uni̇versi̇ty Trai̇ni̇ng and Research Hospi̇tal","correspondingAuthor":false,"prefix":"","firstName":"Abdullah","middleName":"","lastName":"Akcil","suffix":""},{"id":497346775,"identity":"5635b34e-bf7f-4a4d-a5fc-6c381571d60f","order_by":2,"name":"Sinan Taş","email":"","orcid":"","institution":"AIBU Izzet Baysal Training and Research Hospital","correspondingAuthor":false,"prefix":"","firstName":"Sinan","middleName":"","lastName":"Taş","suffix":""},{"id":497346776,"identity":"bf51c9b1-a0c3-4a65-878e-be21eebb9e01","order_by":3,"name":"Sengul Cangur","email":"","orcid":"","institution":"Duzce University","correspondingAuthor":false,"prefix":"","firstName":"Sengul","middleName":"","lastName":"Cangur","suffix":""},{"id":497346777,"identity":"7290c662-df40-4184-bb03-226e0678e014","order_by":4,"name":"Abdulkadir Kaya","email":"","orcid":"","institution":"Duzce University","correspondingAuthor":false,"prefix":"","firstName":"Abdulkadir","middleName":"","lastName":"Kaya","suffix":""}],"badges":[],"createdAt":"2025-05-05 19:38:15","currentVersionCode":1,"declarations":"","doi":"10.21203/rs.3.rs-6597013/v1","doiUrl":"https://doi.org/10.21203/rs.3.rs-6597013/v1","draftVersion":[],"editorialEvents":[],"editorialNote":"","failedWorkflow":false,"files":[{"id":88656992,"identity":"d7549ec3-8605-4519-8b11-186e1ba5d729","added_by":"auto","created_at":"2025-08-08 19:34:12","extension":"pdf","order_by":0,"title":"","display":"","copyAsset":false,"role":"manuscript-pdf","size":387249,"visible":true,"origin":"","legend":"","description":"","filename":"manuscript.pdf","url":"https://assets-eu.researchsquare.com/files/rs-6597013/v1/bea6d509-40d6-43ba-9601-b2e6e129444b.pdf"}],"financialInterests":"No competing interests reported.","formattedTitle":"\u003cp\u003eThe Increasing Social Problem: Abandoned Babies \u003c/p\u003e","fulltext":[{"header":"Introduction","content":"\u003cp\u003eThe abandonment of new-borns has been a phenomenon observed throughout history in various social and cultural contexts. For mothers who are unwilling or unable to take on the responsibility of raising their infants, abandonment has sometimes been seen as a solution born out of desperation. In contemporary times, especially in low-income countries such as India, Southeast Asia, and Sub-Saharan Africa, as well as in middle- to high-income countries such as Malaysia, an increase in the number of abandoned infants has been observed. These infants are defined as individuals who do not live with one or both of their parents and are exposed to risks such as poverty, stigmatization, discrimination, and inequality of opportunity (1,2).\u003c/p\u003e\u003cp\u003eThere are numerous social, psychological, and economic reasons behind infant abandonment. The primary reason for abandonment has been identified as the mother's sense of isolation and lack of social support. A study conducted in our country revealed that the most significant cause of infant abandonment is societal pressure. Other contributing factors include extramarital relationships, pregnancies resulting from sexual assault, abandonment by the partner, the mother's young age, low educational level, financial difficulties, and the desire to maintain a certain lifestyle (3,4). In recent years, parallel to the increase in drug addiction, there has also been a significant increase in cases of newborn abandonment (5).\u003c/p\u003e\u003cp\u003eInfant abandonment is generally classified into three categories: \"abandoned infants,\" who are left in the hospital immediately after birth; \"boarder babies,\" who are taken home after birth and then brought back to the hospital within 12 months; and \"discarded infants,\" who are left in public areas without supervision. In many countries, various legal and institutional mechanisms have been developed to ensure the safety of abandoned infants. For example, under the \"Safe Haven Law\" in the United States, parents can safely leave their infants at hospitals, fire stations, or police stations. In countries such as Italy, Germany, Austria, and Poland, special facilities known as \"baby windows\" allow mothers to safely leave their infants at secure locations near hospitals (6). However, newborns who are not left in safe institutions face a significantly high risk of mortality. Unsupervised and dangerous locations, such as toilets, trash bins, and water channels, are among the most common places where infants are abandoned. A study conducted in the United States reported that 82% of infants who were not left in a safe institution died within the first day (3).\u003c/p\u003e\u003cp\u003eThis study aims to identify the risk factors leading to newborn abandonment by retrospectively examining the clinical characteristics of newborns abandoned in hospitals and the sociodemographic data of their parents.\u003c/p\u003e"},{"header":"Materials and methodology","content":"\u003cp\u003eThe study included 30 newborns who were born between January 2018 and January 2025 at D\u0026uuml;zce University Application and Research Hospital and were abandoned by their families and subsequently delivered to the Social Services and Child Protection Agency. A control group of 24 randomly selected newborns who were born around the same time as the study group but were not abandoned by their families was also included.\u003c/p\u003e\u003cp\u003eThe sociodemographic characteristics of the families (age, occupation, education level, economic status, smoking, alcohol, and substance use, the number of pregnancies, and parental cohabitation), the father's awareness of the pregnancy, gestational age, birth weight, mode of delivery, sex, need for neonatal resuscitation, need for neonatal intensive care, and whether the newborn developed signs of withdrawal syndrome were retrospectively evaluated.\u003c/p\u003e\u003cp\u003ePatients with congenital anomalies, chromosomal abnormalities, or metabolic disorders were excluded from the study to eliminate potential confounding factors and ensure group comparability.\u003c/p\u003e\u003cdiv id=\"Sec3\" class=\"Section2\"\u003e\u003ch2\u003eStatistical analysis\u003c/h2\u003e\u003cp\u003eQuantitative variables are presented as the means\u0026thinsp;\u0026plusmn;\u0026thinsp;standard deviations or medians (IQRs: interquartile ranges), whereas qualitative data are presented as numbers and percentages. The normality assumption of quantitative variables was examined with the Shapiro‒Wilk test. Student\u0026rsquo;s t test and the median test were used for intergroup comparisons of quantitative variables. Pearson\u0026rsquo;s chi-square test (post hoc: Bonferroni-corrected z ratio test), Fisher\u0026rsquo;s exact test (post hoc: Bonferroni-corrected z ratio test), and Fisher\u0026ndash;Freeman\u0026ndash;Halton test were applied for comparisons of categorical variables. Mantel‒Haenszel test statistics and simple logistic regression analysis were applied for the odds ratio (OR) predictive values ​​and confidence intervals of all risk factors found to be significant. SPSS 22 was used for the statistical analyses, and p\u0026thinsp;\u0026lt;\u0026thinsp;0.05 was considered statistically significant.\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/div\u003e"},{"header":"Results","content":"\u003cp\u003eA total of 54 mothers participated in the study, with 55.6% (n\u0026thinsp;=\u0026thinsp;30) forming the group of mothers with abandoned infants and 44.4% (n\u0026thinsp;=\u0026thinsp;24) forming the control group. The mean age of the participating mothers was 27.9\u0026thinsp;\u0026plusmn;\u0026thinsp;7.4 years (range: 16\u0026ndash;45). Among the mothers who abandoned their infants, 43.3% had completed elementary school, 31% were employed, 93.3% smoked, 63.3% consumed alcohol, 36.7% used drugs, 96.7% had no known health conditions, and 76.9% reported poor economic conditions. The descriptive statistics of the demographic characteristics of the mothers in the abandoned infant and control groups are detailed in Table\u0026nbsp;1.\u003c/p\u003e\u003cp\u003eThere were significant differences between the groups regarding the mother's educational level, age, employment status, presence of illness, family relations of the mother and father, economic status, gravida, parity, maternal use of cigarettes, alcohol, and drugs, presence of the mother and father together, and gestational age (p\u0026thinsp;\u0026lt;\u0026thinsp;0.05, Table\u0026nbsp;1). Compared with those in the control group, the rates of smoking (93.3%), alcohol consumption (63.3%), and drug use (36.7%) were significantly greater in the mothers with abandoned infants (p\u0026thinsp;\u0026lt;\u0026thinsp;0.05, Table\u0026nbsp;1). Additionally, the gestational age of the mothers in the abandoned infant group was significantly lower than that of the mothers in the control group. Maternal smoking, alcohol and drug use, the absence of mothers and fathers living together, and lower gestational age were found to increase the risk of infant abandonment by 1.40-184.69 times.\u003c/p\u003e\u003cp\u003eThe demographic characteristics of the fathers of the infants in both groups are presented in Table\u0026nbsp;2. Among the fathers of the abandoned infants, 40% had completed high school, 57.1% were unemployed, 100% smoked, 78.6% consumed alcohol, 50% used drugs, and 33.3% were reported by the mothers as being unaware of the infant. There were significant differences between the groups in terms of father's employment status; knowledge of the infant, smoking, alcohol and drug use; and father's education and age (p\u0026thinsp;\u0026lt;\u0026thinsp;0.05, Table\u0026nbsp;2). Compared with those in the control group, the unemployment rate (57.1%), smoking rate (100%), alcohol consumption rate (78.6%), and drug use rate (50%) were significantly higher among fathers in the abandoned infant group (p\u0026thinsp;\u0026lt;\u0026thinsp;0.05). Fathers\u0026rsquo; unemployment, smoking, alcohol and drug use, and lack of awareness of the infant were found to increase the risk of infant abandonment by approximately 25.10\u0026ndash;84.33 times.\u003c/p\u003e\u003cp\u003eThe demographic and clinical characteristics of the infants in the abandoned and control groups are presented in Table\u0026nbsp;3. Sixty percent of the abandoned infants were born through normal spontaneous vaginal delivery (NSVD), 66.7% were male, 43.3% were admitted to the neonatal intensive care unit (NICU), and only 6.7% experienced withdrawal symptoms. There were significant differences between the groups regarding birth method, birth weight, and NICU admission status, except for sex, resuscitation requirements, and withdrawal status (p\u0026thinsp;\u0026lt;\u0026thinsp;0.05, Table\u0026nbsp;3). In the group of abandoned infants, the proportions of those born through NSVD (60%) and those admitted to the NICU (43.3%) were significantly greater than those in the control group (p\u0026thinsp;\u0026lt;\u0026thinsp;0.05). Furthermore, the birth weights of the abandoned infants were significantly lower than those of the control infants. Normal vaginal delivery and NICU admission increased the risk of infant abandonment by approximately 7.52 and 3.82 times, respectively. Since the odds ratio (OR) for low birth weight was approximately 1, it can be concluded that low birth weight does not have a significant effect on the likelihood of infant abandonment.\u003c/p\u003e\u003cp\u003eThe odds ratios (ORs) and 95% confidence intervals for each risk factor influencing the likelihood of infant abandonment are presented in the graph in Fig.\u0026nbsp;1.\u003c/p\u003e"},{"header":"Discussion","content":"\u003cp\u003eThe abandonment of new-borns is emerging as a significant public health concern that has been increasing in prevalence and leading to serious societal consequences. Although the literature includes a limited number of studies on abandoned infants, we did not find any research that directly compared abandoned newborns with a control group. The aim of this study was to identify potential risk factors associated with newborn abandonment by analyzing the sociodemographic characteristics of parents and the clinical features of infants.\u003c/p\u003e\u003cp\u003eIn our study, the rates of cigarette, alcohol, and substance use among the mothers of abandoned newborns were significantly greater than those in the control group. Similarly, unemployment, along with cigarette, alcohol, and substance use, was significantly more common among fathers of abandoned infants. The gestational age of abandoned newborns was lower, and the cohabitation rate of their parents was markedly lower than that of the control group. According to the risk analysis, the most prominent risk factor for newborn abandonment was parents not living together, which increased the risk by 184.6 times. These findings demonstrate that the socioeconomic status and lifestyle habits of parents are critical determinants of newborn abandonment. Additionally, the higher rate of admission to neonatal intensive care units among abandoned infants suggests that this group is at greater medical risk during the postnatal period.\u003c/p\u003e\u003cp\u003eIn a study conducted in T\u0026uuml;rkiye by Y\u0026uuml;cel et al., 37.3% of abandoned infants were reported to be premature, with a mean gestational age of 36.4 weeks, and 62.7% were delivered via vaginal birth. The same study reported a mean birth weight of 2,735\u0026thinsp;\u0026plusmn;\u0026thinsp;777.03 grams (range: 660\u0026ndash;3,950 g) (4). In another study by Sattarova et al., 19.73% of abandoned newborns were found to have low birth weights (7). Similarly, in our study, the mean gestational age in the case group was 36.9\u0026thinsp;\u0026plusmn;\u0026thinsp;2.8 weeks, and the mean birth weight was 2,755.5\u0026thinsp;\u0026plusmn;\u0026thinsp;588 grams. However, 50% of the infants in our case group were born prematurely. With respect to the mode of delivery, 60% of the cases in our study were delivered via normal vaginal delivery, which is consistent with the literature. When comparing the case and control groups, vaginal delivery was found to be significantly more common in the case group. Additionally, gestational age was significantly shorter, and birth weight was significantly lower in the case group. This may be attributed to several factors, including the lack of physical and social support experienced by mothers who abandon their babies during pregnancy, insufficient prenatal care, irregular sexual activity, and possible infections\u0026mdash;each potentially contributing to early onset of labor, resulting in a higher rate of prematurity and lower birth weight. As a consequence of these factors, our study revealed that abandoned newborns had a significantly greater need for neonatal intensive care unit (NICU) admission than did control newborns.\u003c/p\u003e\u003cp\u003eIn the literature, it has been reported that mothers who abandon their babies are generally young, unmarried, and healthy individuals and that these pregnancies are often their first (8). Similarly, a study examining mothers who committed neonaticide described a maternal profile with comparable sociodemographic characteristics (9). All of the mothers in the case group included in our study were healthy individuals. Among them, 36.6% were 24 years old or younger, and 56.6% were experiencing their first pregnancy. However, no statistically significant differences were found between the case and control groups in terms of maternal age or parity. This may be related to the generally younger age at marriage and childbearing observed in our society.\u003c/p\u003e\u003cp\u003eIn a study conducted by Liakh et al., only 10% of the mothers who had abandoned or intended to abandon their babies were married (10). Other studies in the literature on infant abandonment have emphasized that the most prominent common factor is maternal isolation and a lack of social support (3). In our study, only 20% of the parents in the case group were living together, and only one couple was legally married. In contrast, all parents in the control group were legally married and cohabiting. There was a statistically significant difference between the case and control groups in terms of cohabitation status. Furthermore, risk analysis identified noncohabitation of parents as the most significant risk factor for newborn abandonment, increasing the likelihood of abandonment by 184.69 times.\u003c/p\u003e\u003cp\u003eIn the same study, 41.6% of the mothers reported having an educational level of elementary school or below, whereas only 10% were university graduates. Research has indicated that the risk of infant abandonment increases as maternal educational level decreases (4). In our study, 10% of the mothers in the case group had received no formal education, 43.3% had completed primary education, and 13.3% were university graduates. These findings are consistent with the literature. However, when the case and control groups were compared, no statistically significant difference was observed in terms of educational level. This may be related to the overall lower educational attainment still present in the general population.\u003c/p\u003e\u003cp\u003eIn the study conducted by Y\u0026uuml;cel et al., alcohol and substance use were also identified as significant risk factors for infant abandonment (4). In the study by Liakh et al., 83.3% of mothers were reported to be smokers, 64.3% consumed alcohol, and 19% used illicit drugs (10). In our study, 93.3% of the mothers in the case group reported smoking, 63.3% consumed alcohol, and 36.7% used illicit substances. The higher rate of substance use observed in our study than in the literature may be because the study by Liakh et al. was conducted in 2019. A study conducted in T\u0026uuml;rkiye reported a significant increase in drug use among women aged 18\u0026ndash;24 years during and after the COVID-19 pandemic (11). Compared with those in the control group, the rates of cigarette, alcohol, and substance use were significantly higher among mothers in the case group. These findings support the notion that tobacco, alcohol, and substance dependence are important risk factors associated with newborn abandonment.\u003c/p\u003e\u003cp\u003eIn the study conducted by Lee et al., the majority of mothers who abandoned their infants were reported to be young adults with limited financial resources (12). In our study, 70% of the mothers in the case group were unemployed, and 76.9% described their financial situation as poor. Among the working mothers, only two had regular employment, while the rest were engaged in low-income daily jobs. No statistically significant difference was found between the case and control groups in terms of unemployment rates or perceived economic status. This may reflect the broader issue of the limited participation of women in the labor market within our society.\u003c/p\u003e\u003cp\u003eResearch on fathers of abandoned infants in the literature is lacking. To address this gap, we aimed to include paternal data in our study; however, father-related information could not be obtained for all infants in the case group. In some instances, mothers were unaware of the father's identity, whereas in others, they chose not to disclose it. In cases where information was available, fathers reported significantly higher rates of smoking, alcohol, and substance use than did the control group. In a study by Zahra et al., high-risk behaviors such as substance abuse and risky sexual practices were reported to be common among some adolescents and young adults (13). It is believed that unwanted pregnancies resulting from such high-risk behaviors may lead to infant abandonment.\u003c/p\u003e\u003cp\u003eIn the study conducted by Nolte-Troha et al., substance use was found to be significantly more prevalent among unemployed individuals. Researchers have concluded that unemployment is a risk factor for substance abuse and vice versa (14). Similarly, in our study, the unemployment rate among fathers in the case group was 57.1%, which was significantly higher than that in the control group. Further analysis revealed that paternal unemployment increased the risk of newborn abandonment by 64.08 times. This finding suggests that unemployment and associated financial hardship may undermine a mother's belief in her ability to provide adequate care for her child, thereby increasing the likelihood of abandonment.\u003c/p\u003e\u003cp\u003eInfant abandonment is significantly influenced by cultural and religious norms, as highlighted in the literature. A study conducted in Poland by Olejarz et al. reported that the majority of the population adhered to Catholic Christianity, reinforcing strict societal attitudes toward sexuality and pregnancy, with abortion being prohibited. In this context, mothers may abandon their infants due to social pressure in cases of unwanted pregnancies (15). In some societies, the sex of the infant may also lead to abandonment or even infanticide. A study in Denmark reported that 66.6% of abandoned infants were female. Similarly, in China and India, most reported infanticide cases involve female newborns (16). In the study by Y\u0026uuml;cel et al., 55.2% of the abandoned infants were girls (4). In contrast, a study conducted in North Carolina reported that 58.8% of abandoned or killed infants were male (8). In our study, 66.6% of the infants in the case group were male; however, no statistically significant difference was found between the groups in terms of sex. This suggests that, in our study, infant abandonment was not influenced by the baby\u0026rsquo;s sex.\u003c/p\u003e\u003cp\u003eIn Nigeria, owing to cultural myths and beliefs, infants with early tooth eruption may be considered cursed or associated with witchcraft and consequently abandoned by their families. Some reports indicate that when upper incisors erupt before lower incisors erupt, such infants may even be killed due to societal beliefs (17). Similarly, a Russian study noted that illegitimate relationships are heavily stigmatized, which may also lead to infant abandonment (18). In our study, none of the mothers reported abandoning their infants due to superstitions such as curses or witchcraft, as seen in Nigeria. However, some mothers admitted to abandoning their infants due to fear of societal condemnation.\u003c/p\u003e"},{"header":"Conclusion","content":"\u003cp\u003eThis study, the sociodemographic and clinical characteristics of abandoned newborns were examined, and risk factors were identified through comparative analyses with a control group. The findings indicate that newborn abandonment is a complex issue driven not only by individual factors but also by broader social and systemic causes. Therefore, it is essential to enhance preventive healthcare services for at-risk groups, expand social policy support, and implement public awareness initiatives. Developing multidisciplinary approaches will play a key role in providing sustainable solutions to prevent this problem.\u003c/p\u003e"},{"header":"Limitations","content":"\u003cp\u003eThe main limitations include a small sample size, data collected from a single region, and a retrospective design, which may lead to missing or biased information. The observational nature of the study limits causal interpretation, and deeper psychological or cultural influences could not be fully explored.\u003c/p\u003e"},{"header":"Declarations","content":"\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eEthics approval and consent to participate:\u0026nbsp;\u003c/strong\u003eThe study was conducted in accordance with the Declaration of Helsinki, and approved by Düzce University Faculty of Medicine Ethics Committee (Decision no: 2024/62 Approval Date: 01.04.2024).\u003c/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eConsent for publication:\u0026nbsp;\u003c/strong\u003eInformed consent was obtained from all the subjects involved in the study.\u003c/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eAvailability of data and materials:\u0026nbsp;\u003c/strong\u003eStudy data will be shared if requested.\u003c/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eCompeting interests:\u0026nbsp;\u003c/strong\u003eThe authors declare that they have no conflicts of interest.\u003c/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eFunding:\u003c/strong\u003e This research received no external funding.\u003c/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eAcknowledgements:\u0026nbsp;\u003c/strong\u003eNot Applicable.\u003c/p\u003e"},{"header":"References","content":"\u003col\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eGuha A, Rai A, Gupta D, Mondal R. Abandoned Babies at Tertiary Care Rural Medical College Hospital: The Indian Scenarios. Indian J Pediatr. 2019 Apr;86(4):335–339.\u003c/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eRazali S, Kirkman M, Ahmad SH, Fisher J. Infanticide and illegal infant abandonment in Malaysia. Child abuse \u0026amp; neglect 2014;38:1715-24.\u003c/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eBradley D. Perspectives on newborn abandonment. Pediatric emergency care. 2003; 19(2): 108 − 11.\u003c/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eYücel H, Demirel N, Baş AY, Ulubaş Işık D, Kulalı F, Mollamahmutoğlu L, Duyan Çamurdan A. A Sociodemographic Analysis of Mothers who Abandoned their Newborn Babies: A Single-Center Study. Türkiye Çocuk Hastalıkları Dergisi. 2021; 15(2): 150-4.\u003c/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eElbayitev S, Çakır U. Hastanede doğum sonrasında terkedilen bebeklerinin demografik ve klinik özellikleri–tek merkez deneyimi. Jinekoloji-Obstetrik ve Neonatoloji Tıp Dergisi. 2022; 19(4): 1532-5.\u003c/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eFerrara P, Gatto A, Paolillo P, Vena F, Ianniello F, Romagnoli C. Abandoned newborn: neglected phenomenon. Early Human Development. 2013; 89S4: 45 − 6.\u003c/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eSattarova S, Öncel MY, Üstün H, Gencay SK, Engür D. Social and medical characteristics of neonates who were abandoned in a tertiary maternity hospital in Turkey. Turk Arch Pediatr. 2023;58(5):480-4.\u003c/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eHerman-Giddens ME, Smith JB, Mittal M, Carlson M, Butts JD. Newborns killed or left to die by a parent: a population-based study. JAMA. 2003 Mar 19;289(11):1425-9.\u003c/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eMakhlouf F, Rambaud C. Child homicide and neglect in France: 1991–2008. Child Abuse Negl. 2014 Jan;38(1):37–41.\u003c/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eLiakh T, Hevchuk N. Problems of women with high risk of abandonment of a newborn. In: Society. Integration. Education. Proceedings of the International Scientific Conference; 2019 May; Rezekne, Latvia. Vol. 3. p. 273–83.\u003c/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eÖztürk YE, Yeter O, Ateş I. Changes in the frequency and pattern of drugs detected among suspected drug users during the COVID-19 pandemic in Turkey. \u003cem\u003eInt J Legal Med.\u003c/em\u003e 2022;136(5):1273–9.\u003c/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eLee SA, Kim HS. A study on the social perceptions of the baby box and infant abandonment. \u003cem\u003eJ Korean Soc Matern Child Health.\u003c/em\u003e 2019;23(1):13–22.\u003c/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eBagheri Z, Boroumandfar Z, Shirazi M. Self-care needs in the domains of knowledge, attitude and performance of adolescent girls with regard to drug addiction and risky sexual behaviors in Iran. \u003cem\u003eIran J Nurs Midwifery Res.\u003c/em\u003e 2021;26(5):411–6.\u003c/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eNolte-Troha C, Roser P, Henkel D, Scherbaum N, Koller G, Franke AG. Unemployment and substance use: An updated review of studies from North America and Europe. \u003cem\u003eHealthcare (Basel).\u003c/em\u003e 2023 Apr;11(8):1182.\u003c/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eOlejarz S. Ethical concerns relating to child abandonment and baby hatches: The case of Poland. \u003cem\u003eJ Philos Ethics Health Care Med.\u003c/em\u003e 2017;11:41–61.\u003c/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eGheorghe A, Banner J, Hansen SH, Stolborg U, Lynnerup N. Abandonment of newborn infants: a Danish forensic medical survey 1997–2008. \u003cem\u003eForensic Sci Med Pathol.\u003c/em\u003e 2011;7:317–21.\u003c/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eOyapero A, Oyapero O. Abandonment of a neonate with natal tooth. \u003cem\u003eNiger J Clin Med.\u003c/em\u003e 2014;6(1):55–60.\u003c/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eBezrukova ON, Samoylova VA. “Invisible” mothers: Social profile of women abandoning their newborn babies. \u003cem\u003eВ РОССИЙСКОМ ОБЩЕСТВЕ.\u003c/em\u003e 2022;58.\u003c/li\u003e\n\u003c/ol\u003e"}],"fulltextSource":"","fullText":"","funders":[],"hasAdminPriorityOnWorkflow":false,"hasManuscriptDocX":true,"hasOptedInToPreprint":true,"hasPassedJournalQc":"","hasAnyPriority":false,"hideJournal":false,"highlight":"","institution":"","isAcceptedByJournal":true,"isAuthorSuppliedPdf":false,"isDeskRejected":"","isHiddenFromSearch":false,"isInQc":false,"isInWorkflow":false,"isPdf":false,"isPdfUpToDate":true,"isWithdrawnOrRetracted":false,"journal":{"display":true,"email":"[email protected]","identity":"humanities-and-social-sciences-communications","isNatureJournal":false,"hasQc":true,"allowDirectSubmit":false,"externalIdentity":"palcomms","sideBox":"Learn more about [Humanities \u0026 Social Sciences Communications](http://www.nature.com/palcomms/)","snPcode":"41599","submissionUrl":"https://submission.springernature.com/new-submission/41599/3","title":"Humanities and Social Sciences Communications","twitterHandle":"","acdcEnabled":true,"dfaEnabled":true,"editorialSystem":"stoa","reportingPortfolio":"Nature AJ","inReviewEnabled":true,"inReviewRevisionsEnabled":false},"keywords":"Abandoned babies, newborns, separation of parents, drug addiction, unemployment","lastPublishedDoi":"10.21203/rs.3.rs-6597013/v1","lastPublishedDoiUrl":"https://doi.org/10.21203/rs.3.rs-6597013/v1","license":{"name":"CC BY 4.0","url":"https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/"},"manuscriptAbstract":"\u003ch2\u003eObjective\u003c/h2\u003e\u003cp\u003eNewborn abandonment is a significant public health issue with both ethical and societal implications. Various socioeconomic factors contribute to the incidence of infant abandonment. The mortality rate is particularly high among infants not left in a safe environment. Many countries have developed various abandonment mechanisms to ensure the safety of abandoned newborns.\u003c/p\u003e\u003ch2\u003eStudy Design:\u003c/h2\u003e\u003cp\u003eRetrospective, comparative study\u003c/p\u003e\u003ch2\u003eSetting:\u003c/h2\u003e\u003cp\u003eTertiary referral hospital\u003c/p\u003e\u003ch2\u003eMaterials and methodology:\u003c/h2\u003e\u003cp\u003eThis study included 30 newborns abandoned by their families as the case group, and 24 newborns born around the same time who were not abandoned as the control group. The sociodemographic characteristics of the families and clinical data of the newborns were evaluated retrospectively.\u003c/p\u003e\u003ch2\u003eResults\u003c/h2\u003e\u003cp\u003eThe rates of cigarette, alcohol, and substance use among the mothers and fathers of abandoned infants were significantly higher than those in the control group. In addition, the unemployment rate among fathers was higher in the case group. Prematurity and the need for neonatal intensive care unit (NICU) admission were more common among abandoned infants. The rate of parents living together was significantly lower in the case group compared to the control group. According to risk analysis, parental separation was identified as the strongest risk factor, increasing the likelihood of newborn abandonment by 184.6 times.\u003c/p\u003e\u003ch2\u003eConclusion\u003c/h2\u003e\u003cp\u003eThese findings are important for identifying at-risk populations for newborn abandonment and for developing targeted preventive social and healthcare policies. The study aims to contribute to the formulation of effective strategies to prevent newborn abandonment.\u003c/p\u003e","manuscriptTitle":"The Increasing Social Problem: Abandoned Babies","msid":"","msnumber":"","nonDraftVersions":[{"code":1,"date":"2025-08-08 19:26:08","doi":"10.21203/rs.3.rs-6597013/v1","editorialEvents":[{"type":"communityComments","content":0},{"type":"decision","content":"Revision requested","date":"2025-11-09T16:32:24+00:00","index":"","fulltext":""},{"type":"editorInvitedReview","content":"","date":"2025-09-29T11:20:44+00:00","index":"hide","fulltext":""},{"type":"reviewerAgreed","content":"310826294618656056169789478848221634735","date":"2025-09-16T16:24:18+00:00","index":"hide","fulltext":""},{"type":"reviewerAgreed","content":"256955347433642633643360533717644051212","date":"2025-09-15T12:42:40+00:00","index":"hide","fulltext":""},{"type":"editorInvitedReview","content":"","date":"2025-08-31T04:36:07+00:00","index":"hide","fulltext":""},{"type":"reviewerAgreed","content":"149599173140946437517151923091849878284","date":"2025-08-29T07:31:31+00:00","index":"hide","fulltext":""},{"type":"reviewerAgreed","content":"207719960245863225493287508724849652503","date":"2025-08-24T18:22:56+00:00","index":"hide","fulltext":""},{"type":"reviewerAgreed","content":"106494971433274049440721466639029379534","date":"2025-08-07T20:21:10+00:00","index":"hide","fulltext":""},{"type":"editorInvitedReview","content":"","date":"2025-08-05T12:13:14+00:00","index":"hide","fulltext":""},{"type":"reviewerAgreed","content":"192066978474184398153418678552814540261","date":"2025-08-04T07:03:01+00:00","index":"hide","fulltext":""},{"type":"reviewersInvited","content":"","date":"2025-08-02T13:39:41+00:00","index":"","fulltext":""},{"type":"editorInvited","content":"","date":"2025-06-14T17:41:25+00:00","index":"","fulltext":""},{"type":"editorAssigned","content":"","date":"2025-06-14T17:27:50+00:00","index":"","fulltext":""},{"type":"checksComplete","content":"","date":"2025-06-02T17:03:41+00:00","index":"","fulltext":""},{"type":"submitted","content":"Humanities and Social Sciences Communications","date":"2025-05-05T19:30:29+00:00","index":"","fulltext":""}],"status":"published","journal":{"display":true,"email":"[email protected]","identity":"humanities-and-social-sciences-communications","isNatureJournal":false,"hasQc":true,"allowDirectSubmit":false,"externalIdentity":"palcomms","sideBox":"Learn more about [Humanities \u0026 Social Sciences Communications](http://www.nature.com/palcomms/)","snPcode":"41599","submissionUrl":"https://submission.springernature.com/new-submission/41599/3","title":"Humanities and Social Sciences Communications","twitterHandle":"","acdcEnabled":true,"dfaEnabled":true,"editorialSystem":"stoa","reportingPortfolio":"Nature AJ","inReviewEnabled":true,"inReviewRevisionsEnabled":false}}],"origin":"","ownerIdentity":"78ea6e62-cc2d-40bd-969e-e5fedc3fef68","owner":[],"postedDate":"August 8th, 2025","published":true,"recentEditorialEvents":[],"rejectedJournal":[],"revision":"","amendment":"","status":"under-review","subjectAreas":[{"id":52890380,"name":"Humanities/Health humanities"},{"id":52890381,"name":"Humanities/Medical humanities"},{"id":52890382,"name":"Social science/Sociology"}],"tags":[],"updatedAt":"2026-05-20T11:10:59+00:00","versionOfRecord":[],"versionCreatedAt":"2025-08-08 19:26:08","video":"","vorDoi":"","vorDoiUrl":"","workflowStages":[]},"version":"v1","identity":"rs-6597013","journalConfig":"researchsquare"},"__N_SSP":true},"page":"/article/[identity]/[[...version]]","query":{"redirect":"/article/rs-6597013","identity":"rs-6597013","version":["v1"]},"buildId":"8U1c8b4HqxoKbykW_rLl7","isFallback":false,"isExperimentalCompile":false,"dynamicIds":[84888],"gssp":true,"scriptLoader":[]}