Infanticide and illegal infant abandonment in Malaysia

Razali, Salmi; Kirkman, Maggie; Ahmad, Sohail; Fisher, Jane

doi:10.1016/j.chiabu.2014.06.008

Cited by 24 publications

(29 citation statements)

References 40 publications

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“…It has produced an original, valuable contribution to knowledge. We have analysed Malaysia's early initiatives in collecting data and illuminated areas requiring further attention (Razali et al 2014). We have been able to demonstrate that women convicted of filicide are themselves victims (Razali 2015).…”

Section: Resultsmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…Until our research, no data on filicide in Malaysia had been published (Razali et al 2014). The data to which we had access were limited.…”

Section: A Rare Phenomenon and An Elusive Participant Groupmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…No data fields were fully populated and it appeared that information from each case was not systematically recorded. For example, of the 1147 suspects recorded as having been arrested 1999-2011, perpetrator sex was logged for only 248 (Razali et al 2014). We understand our contribution to include not only publishing all available data but also indicating how data gathering and record keeping can be improved.…”

Section: A Rare Phenomenon and An Elusive Participant Groupmentioning

confidence: 99%

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Research on a Socially, Ethically, and Legally Complex Phenomenon: Women Convicted of Filicide in Malaysia

Razali

Kirkman

Fisher

2017

Int J for Crime, Justice & Social Democracy

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Little is known about filicide from the perspective of women convicted of the offence. The lack of research is partly attributable to the many difficulties entailed in researching socially marginalised and incarcerated people. Research on filicide engages with socially, culturally, and politically sensitive matters, including gendered social structures and behaviours, legal and ethical complexity, emotionally arousing topics, a rare phenomenon, and hard-to-reach participants. In countries where there is poor surveillance, limited local information, and few resources or experts in filicide, researchers must find innovative ways of overcoming these problems. Here we describe the particular challenges in conducting research on women convicted of filicide in Malaysia, a predominantly Muslim country, when the researchers are based at an Australian university. The persistence, resilience, and creativity required to overcome each problem were justified by the achievement of research that contributes to knowledge and has implications for change in policy and practice. KeywordsWomen; filicide; Malaysia; incarcerated women; research ethics.

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Section: Resultsmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…Until our research, no data on filicide in Malaysia had been published (Razali et al 2014). The data to which we had access were limited.…”

Section: A Rare Phenomenon and An Elusive Participant Groupmentioning

confidence: 99%

Section: A Rare Phenomenon and An Elusive Participant Groupmentioning

confidence: 99%

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Research on a Socially, Ethically, and Legally Complex Phenomenon: Women Convicted of Filicide in Malaysia

Razali

Kirkman

Fisher

2017

Int J for Crime, Justice & Social Democracy

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“…Until we began our own research (Razali, ; Razali et al ., , , ), there were no reports of filicide research in Malaysia (nor in neighbouring countries), and there was no way of knowing whether the phenomenon in Malaysia differed from what had been found elsewhere. In recent decades, filicide and infant abandonment have attracted media interest and increased public concern worldwide (Little and Tyson, ; Niblock, ), including in Malaysia (Niner et al ., ), where there are frequent accounts in the media of infants being abandoned or their bodies being found.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Why Women Commit Filicide: Opinions of Health, Social Work, Education and Policy Professionals in Malaysia

2020

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Although filicide is discussed with concern in the print media and online in Malaysia, there is little empirical evidence about its aetiology or appropriate responses. We sought to elucidate the opinions of health, social work, education and policy professionals in Malaysia on the causes of, and solutions to, filicide. Fifteen informants participated in semi‐structured qualitative interviews. Informants attributed responsibility for filicide to girls and women as a consequence of their failure to comply with social norms and religious teachings; the stigmatised social position of women who are pregnant and unmarried was identified as a contributing factor. No informant mentioned the impact of gender‐based violence, including sexual violence against girls and women. Informants' views reflect the dominant discourse of filicide in Malaysia, which is that it results from women's failure to adhere to Malaysian norms of morality, religion, customs and traditions. Solutions were largely directed at changing the behaviour of girls and women. Given the disparities between the public discourse and evidence of the experiences of women convicted of filicide, interventions that promote social change might be more effective than strategies targeting women. Key Practitioner Messages There are adverse consequences for children and women in Malaysia when responsibility for child safety is placed on individual women and not referred to a society structured on strict gender roles and masculine power. Practitioners in Malaysia would benefit from international support to understand the effects of marginalised women's experiences.

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“…Studies in Italy claim a high annual rate of 3000 babies (Ferrara et al, 2013). In Malaysia 1069 cases of illegal infant abandonment were recorded for the period 1999-2011 -giving an average annual rate of 89 (Razali, Kirkman, Ahmad, & Fisher, 2014). A detailed investigation by Sherr et al (2009) in the UK calculated a conservative rate of 16 babies per annum.…”

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confidence: 99%

Emotional distress, resilience and adaptability: a qualitative study of adults who experienced infant abandonment

Sherr

Roberts

Croome

2017

Health Psychology and Behavioral Medicine

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Background: There is very little insight into the emotional effects of adult survivors of infant abandonment. The rate and reasons for abandonment differ by country, region and economic background. Depending on country, age and era, abandoned children may be cared for by a series of alternative arrangements, ranging from care homes, institutions, foster care, alternative care environments or even reside as street children. As abandonment is relatively rare in the UK, formal procedures, documentation, provision and handling are often overlooked in policy guidance. Method: A qualitative study was conducted with 16 adult survivors of infant abandonment drawn from a UK sample. Participant interviews were recorded verbatim and transcribed. The full transcripts were coded for emerging (n = 14) and then higher order (n = 3) themes. Results: Higher order themes suggest that interpersonal issues relating to relationship formation and personal emotional coping were key factors. Both positive and negative emotions and actions were documented at the personal and interpersonal levels. Of specific note were effects resulting from formal health and welfare systems as they navigated through documentation, medical encounters and contact with agencies. Their recollections encompassed extensive internal grief over the course of many years. Yet, for many, there were simultaneous threads of resilience and adaptation. Conclusions: Support pathways are wanting and these findings suggest a number of potential interventions and/or provision required from an early age to ameliorate or obviate such emotional strain. Given the rarity of abandonment, this insight may assist in policy change, especially with regard to support provision. Documentation needs to be maintained for the longer term -with the current practice of five-year limits unhelpful to this group. It may be many years after the abandonment that they embark on searches for information. Lessons for adoptive parents regarding the unique situation of abandoned babies may also be of benefit.

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Infanticide and illegal infant abandonment in Malaysia

Cited by 24 publications

References 40 publications

Research on a Socially, Ethically, and Legally Complex Phenomenon: Women Convicted of Filicide in Malaysia

Research on a Socially, Ethically, and Legally Complex Phenomenon: Women Convicted of Filicide in Malaysia

Why Women Commit Filicide: Opinions of Health, Social Work, Education and Policy Professionals in Malaysia

Emotional distress, resilience and adaptability: a qualitative study of adults who experienced infant abandonment

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