EPIDEMIOLOGICAL PATTERNS OF UNNATURAL DEATHS AMONG WOMEN OF REPRODUCTIVE AGE: A MULTICENTER AUTOPSY STUDY
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Keywords
Autopsy, Education, Epidemiology, Forensic, Marital status, Multicenter, Occupation, Unnatural deaths, Women
Abstract
Unnatural deaths among women have always been a source of a great concern at community and national level in reproductive age group of women.
Objective
To determine the epidemiological patterns, causes, and manners of unnatural deaths among women of reproductive age through a multicenter autopsy-based retrospective cross-sectional study
Study Design & Setting:
A retrospective cross-sectional multicenter study conducted at the Postmortem Units of participating medical teaching hospitals in Pakistan.
Methodology: Data were retrieved from autopsy records, inquest papers, and First Information Reports (FIRs) over a three-year period (01 January 2018 to 31 December 2020). Out of 756 autopsies, 135 cases of women aged 12–49 years with unnatural deaths were included. Demographic, epidemiological, and forensic details were recorded. Data were analyzed using SPSS version 21. Categorical variables were expressed as n (%), and continuous variables as mean ± SD. Associations between demographic characteristics and manner of death were assessed using the chi-square test, with p < 0.05 considered significant.
Results: The mean age of victims was 28.7 ± 8.7 years, with most cases in the 26–35 year group (38.5%). Married women constituted 63.0% of cases, and 57.8% were from urban areas. Firearm injuries (22.9%) and road traffic accidents (14.8%) were the leading causes of death. Homicide was the most common manner (54.8%), followed by accidents (17.0%) and suicide (12.6%). Significant associations were found between unnatural deaths and marital status, residence, education level, and occupation (p < 0.05).
Conclusion: Unnatural deaths in women of reproductive age are predominantly homicidal, affecting married women and those in the 26–35 year age group. Multidimensional preventive strategies focusing on gender-based violence, road safety, and social support are urgently needed.
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Kishwar Naheed
Associate Professor Of Forensic Medicine & Toxicology Faisalabad Medical University Faisalabad,
Summyia Sadia
Professor Of Forensic Medicine And Toxicology Rai Medical College Sargodha,
Qurrat ul Ain Kamran
Associate Professor / Head Of Department Forensic Medicine Dera Ghazi Khan Medical College,
Fariha Tariq
Associate Professor/ Head Of Department Of Forensic Medicine King Edward Medical University Lahore,
Mansoora Mirza
Associate Professor Of Forensic Medicine, Services Institute Of Medical Sciences(SIMS), Lahore,
Farhat Sultana
Associate Professor & HOD Forensic Medicine, Allama Iqbal Medical College Since 2015,
Syed Naveed Haider
MBBS, MSPH, Senior Medical Officer, District Health Authority Narowal,