Abandoned babies: the Malaysian ‘baby hatch’

Joan Cochrane & Goh Lee Ming - Infant Vol 9 Issue 4

Abstract

Although not an immense problem in the UK, in many other countries babies are often abandoned by their parent/guardian to an unknown fate. ‘Baby hatches’ have existed in one form or another for many centuries and are a re-emerging facility in many countries. In Malaysia available data and media reports of known foundling babies imply that the number of abandoned babies is increasing annually. This article explores the implementation of a system in Malaysia, where mothers or guardians who choose to abandon their baby are enabled to do so anonymously within a safe environment.

File