The recent arrest of a man who allegedly hit his 1-month-old daughter in the head leading to her death last year has highlighted the urgent need for better support and education for fathers, following a spate of similar cases across the country.
Paternal abuse in some cases has been attributed to a phenomenon known as "papa mishiri" in Japan, a coined phrase roughly meaning "daddy aversion."
While some experts interpret it as a sign that a baby's cognitive skills are developing, they acknowledge that inexperienced fathers may feel shocked when their children appear to reject them.