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Open research questions in Homicide, Infanticide, and Child Abuse

100 gap statements mined from Homicide, Infanticide, and Child Abuse papers in our 4.5M-paper local library, which holds 1,265 papers on the topic — drawn mostly from each paper's own stated research gap, future-work, challenge and limitation notes, and its abstract. The ones listed below are a selection still marked open; each names the study that raised it, with a DOI link where the paper has one.

Choosing where to publish on Homicide, Infanticide, and Child Abuse? See the ranked Social Science journals.

What the literature leaves open

  • The lack of safe abortion services and education regarding reproductive health contributes to the high rate of unsafe abortions. The prevalence of untrained personnel performing abortions in countries where abortion is illegal.

    Removal of Decapitated Fetal Head from Abdominal Cavity Following Uterine Rupture After Illegal Induced Abortion: A Case Report · 2026 · DOI

  • However, given the recency of this trend, and the observed leveling off in 2024, it remains to be seen what will happen in the coming years as in-person activities continue to resume.

    Turning on Their Own: Juvenile Crimes Against Family Members Using NIBRS Data · 2026 · DOI

  • The lack of quality data and analysis pertaining to NIF means that there is limited knowledge surrounding patterns or risk factors, no awareness or ability to measure the extent to which they are gender-motivated, no coordinated review of the contexts of NIF, and consequently, no forum for lessons to be learned that might lead to the prevention of future deaths.

    Non-intimate femicide in England and Wales: A ‘continua’ approach · 2026 · DOI

  • Further studies on the relationship between filicide and mental health are needed. Research on the effectiveness of child protection measures is recommended.

    Trastorno Límite de la Personalidad y Filicidio: Discusión de caso. · 2024 · DOI

  • There is a need to understand the relationship between filicide and mental health. The evaluation of criminal imputability in filicide cases is a complex issue.

    Trastorno Límite de la Personalidad y Filicidio: Discusión de caso. · 2024 · DOI

  • Smith, (14) Omar Gutierrez asked the United States Court of Appeals for the Second Circuit whether a man, acquitted of intentional murder but convicted of indifference murder, could have his conviction vacated when, under current New York case law, his conduct and mental state were insufficient to constitute indifference murder.

    Gutierrez V. Smith, a Curious Case of Depraved Indifference Murder · 2013

  • The present exploratory and descriptive study examines a large sample of reported incidents, using 15 years of National Incident-Based Reporting System data (1995 to 2009), to provide a much needed and more comprehensive source of aggregate-level baseline information on this understudied violent crime.

    Filicide: A gendered profile of offender, victim, and event characteristics in a national sample of reported incidents, 1995–2009 · 2013 · DOI

  • The relationship between mental illness and violence is not fully understood. The clinical context and psychopathological correlates of violence require further examination. There is a need for further research to develop effective interventions to reduce violence in psychiatric patients.

    Psychopathology and violence: A review of literature · 1986 · DOI

  • The lack of discussion about suicide in the media. The lack of involvement of caring organizations in TV drama scripts.

    The ‘EASTENDERS’ and Suicide · 1986 · DOI

  • The need for further research on the effectiveness of family therapy in addressing similar difficulties is highlighted.

    Blackmail is Against the Law Part Five: I Have a Waiting List! · 1985 · DOI

  • The paper identifies a need for further exploration of the relationship between the Church and the state in France. The case highlights a lack of clear guidelines on the role of the Church in secular government.

    The finaly affair: Issues and implications · 1983 · DOI

  • There is a lack of understanding of the characteristics of Munchausen syndrome by proxy. There is a need for early detection and intervention to prevent further harm.

    Munchausen syndrome by proxy. · 1982 · DOI

  • The need for a more comprehensive understanding of the patient's personality and behavior. The limitations of traditional assessment methods in understanding complex personalities and behaviors.

    Occupational therapy in the assessment of a woman accused of murder · 1982 · DOI

  • There is a need for effective treatment programs for young female incest victims. The study aims to address the gap in understanding the therapeutic process for incest victims.

    Young female incest victims in treatment: Stages of growth seen with a group art therapy model · 1982 · DOI

  • The therapist must resist challenges to his leadership. The therapist must clarify family roles and rules. The therapist must accommodate to meet the family's needs and structure.

    Combating the scapegoat in family therapy: Selected strategies · 1981 · DOI

  • The paper highlights the need for a strategy to combat the scapegoat in family therapy.

    Combating the scapegoat in family therapy: Selected strategies · 1981 · DOI

  • The paper identifies a lack of understanding and support for bereaved parents. The author notes the lack of explanation for the death. The author discusses the limited research on sudden infant death.

    Death of my baby. · 1981 · DOI

  • Most studies did not focus exclusively on IPV-related child homicides, and overall, studies reported sparse information concerning the contexts and circumstances of such fatalities.

    Characteristics of Child Fatalities that Occur in the Context of Current or Past Intimate Partner Violence: a Scoping Review · 2024 · DOI

  • We have not been able to determine with any assurance how these reports compare with the experiences of the general population.

    The secret trauma: Incest in the lives of girls and women · 1987 · DOI

  • The familial context of incest is often ignored when considering the child's role. The child's behavior is often taken out of context and used to blame the child for the incest.

    Innocent seducer or innocently seduced? the role of the child incest victim · 1982 · DOI

  • The research contributes to the advancement of child criminology in Indonesia by mapping underexplored social-psychological factors and providing an academic foundation for strategies of juvenile crime prevention and child protection within the criminal justice system.

    The Dynamics of GST in Child Homicide Cases: An Analysis of Maladaptive Coping with Relational Conflict · 2026 · DOI

  • This is particularly critical given the disproportionate impact of DFV on Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander communities, where IPH cases are often under- or poorly investigated…

    Fragmented and Frustrating: Professionals’ Experiences Navigating the Service System for Children Who Have Lost a Parent to Intimate Partner Homicide · 2026 · DOI

  • To study the long-term effects of TV drama episodes on suicide attempts. To analyze the impact of televised drama on the audience.

    The ‘EASTENDERS’ and Suicide · 1986 · DOI

  • The need for clinicians to develop a method of treatment for women victims of childhood incest - The lack of effective treatment for the dissociative processes in adult victims of childhood…

    Treating the Dissociative Process in Adult Victims of Childhood Incest · 1985 · DOI

  • Detecting the fabricated illnesses. Intervening early to prevent further harm. Understanding the causes and relationship of the syndrome to other forms of non-accidental injury.

    Munchausen syndrome by proxy. · 1982 · DOI

Most-cited papers in Homicide, Infanticide, and Child Abuse

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Open questions raised by papers listed on this page include: (1) The lack of safe abortion services and education regarding reproductive health contributes to the high rate of unsafe abortions (“Removal of Decapitated Fetal Head from Abdominal Cavity Following Uterine…”, 2026); (2) Given the recency of this trend, and the observed leveling off in 2024, it remains to be seen what will happen in the coming years as in-person activities continue to resume (“Turning on Their Own: Juvenile Crimes Against Family Members Using NIBRS Data”, 2026); (3) Further studies on the relationship between filicide and mental health are needed (“Trastorno Límite de la Personalidad y Filicidio: Discusión de caso”, 2024); (4) The relationship between mental illness and violence is not fully understood (“Psychopathology and violence: A review of literature”, 1986); (5) The lack of involvement of caring organizations in TV drama scripts (“The ‘EASTENDERS’ and Suicide”, 1986). 100 gap statements have been mined from Homicide, Infanticide, and Child Abuse papers in our 4.5M-paper local library, which holds 1,265 papers on the topic; the gaps come from whichever of those papers state one. They are mostly the research gaps the authors state and the papers' abstracts, plus future-work, limitations and challenges passages. The ones listed below are a selection still marked open; each names the study that raised it, with a DOI link where the paper has one, so you can read the original claim in context.

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