Causes of baby abandonment and associated factors: a descriptive study

Newborn abandonment is a significant public health issue with both ethical and societal implications. Various socioeconomic factors are associated with an increased risk 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. This study was conducted at a tertiary referral hospital and designed as a retrospective comparative descriptive study. 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. 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. 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.