FIVE FACTORS WERE SIGNIFICANTLY MORE COMMON IN THE ABUSED GROUP THAN AMONG THEIR CONTROLS: (A) MOTHER AGED UNDER 20 AT BIRTH OF FIRST CHILD, (B) EVIDENCE OF EMOTIONAL DISTURBANCE, (C) REFERRAL OF FAMILY TO HOSPITAL SOCIAL WORKER, (D) BABY'S ADMISSION TO SPECIAL CARE BABY UNIT, (E) RECORDED CONCERN OVER THE MOTHER'S ABILITY TO CARE FOR CHILD. THIRTY-FIVE OF THE ABUSED GROUP HAD TWO OR MORE OF THESE FACTORS COMPARED WITH ONLY FIVE OF THE CONTROL GROUP. THE AUTHORS STATE THAT AS THESE DATA WERE COLLECTED FROM INFORMATION RECORDED ROUTINELY AT THE MATERNITY HOSPITAL, IT IS POSSIBLE TO IDENTIFY MOST ABUSING FAMILIES WHEN THE CHILD IS BORN. THEY CONCLUDE THAT SUCH IDENTIFICATION MUST LEAD TO A COMPREHENSIVE ASSESSMENT OF EACH CASE FOLLOWED BY CONSTRUCTIVE PREVENTIVE ACTION. (AUTHOR ABSTRACT)...DMC