Study of pattern of unnatural deaths in southern India

Abstract

Background: Death is a tragedy in whatever form, at whatever time and in whatever
way it comes. Death may be natural (resulting from disease) or unnatural by
deliberate action of other (homicide), intentionally self-inflected (suicide) or as a
result of an environmental influence (accident). Pattern of unnatural deaths reflects
prevailing social setup and mental health status of a region, and law and order
situation in a particular area of jurisdiction. Police investigation records provide a
valuable source of information onevents leading to the death of an individual,
analysis of these records along with the post- mortem analysis may help us in
understanding the casual pathway, to elucidate potential areas of intervention in
socio-political systemto investigate and develop preventive measures. To know the
magnitude and changing pattern of unnatural deaths in southern region of
Marathwada of Maharashtra state, we have conducted an autopsy based prospective
analytic study of 1401 cases of unnatural deaths. All data related to age, sex, marital
status, religion and cause of death with manner were recorded with detailed autopsy
examination and subsequently the cases were analysed on various parameters to find
the trends and other significant features of pattern of unnatural deaths. Out of 1401
unnatural deaths studied, 892(63.67%) were male and 509 (36.33%) were
female.87.26% were Hindu and 12.74% were Muslim. Married deceased were
892(63.67%). Majority of causes of death were due to trauma i.e. head injury and
multiple injuries 432 (32.84%), burns 325 (23.20%) and poisoning 274(19.56%) and
death due to violent asphyxia were 224(15.99%).