Spectrum of firearm fatalities in Larkana region

Objective: To determine frequency of firearm fatalities in Larkana region

Study Design: Descriptive study

Place and Duration of Study: The study was conducted at causality and department of forensic medicine and toxicology Chandka Medical College @ SMBBMU Larkana from 1[st] June 2013 to 31[st] May 2015

Materials and Methods: Out of 1870 dead bodies brought for autopsy at causality Chandka Medical College Hospital Larkana and those 357 [19%] cases were selected in whom death occurred due to firearm as mentioned in police inquest report and autopsy record conducted, with the permission of authorities data was collected and analyzed and cause of death was determined by external and internal examination of body

Results: Autopsy record shows that among 357 cases males with 309 [87%] were dominated on females with 48 [13%] with Male/Female ratio of 6:1. The victim ages range from 11 years to 70 years and with location of injuries as 127 [35.57%] on Chest, 92 [25.77%] on Head and Neck, 59 [16.52%] on Abdomen, 38 [10.64%] on Head and Chest, chest and abdomen 31 [8.68%] and 10 [2.82%] on limbs and other parts, with manner of homicide in majority [78.15%] of cases

Conclusion: The majority of victims were young males belonging to rural areas with rifled firearm injuries on Chest, and Head and Neck as a cause of death

Ocular injuries - an experience at anwar paracha eye hospital Sukkur

To provide the spectrum of ocular trauma, their potential hazards and propose preventive measures. Retrospective Descriptive. This study was conducted in the departments of Anwar Paracha Eye Hospital [APEH] and Forensic Medicine Ghulam Mohammmad Mahar Medical College Sukkur [GMMMCS] and Chandka Medical College Larkana [CMCL], constituent colleges of Shaheed Mohtarma Benazir Bhutto Medical University Larkana [SMBBMUL] from January to December 2013. The present study was conducted from the records of patients of ocular injuries who attended Anwar Paracha Eye Hospital GMMMC Sukkur with association of departments of Forensic Medicine of GMMMC Sukkur and CMC Larkana, the constituent colleges of SMBBMUL. Of all patients visited APEH, 1.016% cases were of ocular injuries with Male to Female ratio of 8.34:1. The most vulnerable age group was 11-30 years [67.14%]. On presentation in most of cases 130 [46.43%] had visual acuity 6/9 and on follow up 6/6 in 200 [71.43%] cases. The mainly sharp objects in 200 [71.43%] cases were to cause injury and mostly manner of injury was an accident in 212[75.72%] cases. Majority of the cases were male of young age injured by sharp object due to accident with good prognosis of visual acuity

Knowledge, attitude and practices of barbers about hepatitis B and C and its transmission in Larkana city, Pakistan

Blood borne diseases impose heavy burdens on national economies and individual families due to costs arising from acute and chronic morbidity and mortality. Globally, 2 billion people are infected with hepatitis B virus [HBV]. An estimated 170 million persons are chronically infected with hepatitis C virus [HCV] and 3-4 million persons are newly infected each year. Transmission of hepatitis B and C through infected needles, blades, etc. is well known. Barbers are the important parts of community, as almost every man needs at least monthly visit to barber for hair dressing or shaving. In Pakistan the prevalence of shaving by barbers is reported to be as high as 34%-49% of the male population and it is important to know how barbers perceive the risks in relation to prevention of transmission of hepatitis B and C. To assess the knowledge and attitude of barbers regarding HBV and HCV and find out practices among barbers which may be responsible for transmission of HBV and HCV. Cross-Sectional Study. This study was carried out in the Larkana city during the months of March 2010 to April 2012. A list of the barbers was obtained from the union of barbers and sample was drawn from that sampling frame. There were 422 barbers shops in the city. For sampling purpose Larkana city was arbitrarily divided into five zones [East, West, Central, South and North] and then 10 shops randomly selected from each zone. There were 156 barbers available and eligible for interview. After informed verbal consent, 132 barbers agreed to participate in the study. Data was entered, analyzed by Statistical Program for Social Sciences [SPSS] version 13. A total 132 barbers were interviewed. The mean age of respondents was 28 +/- 10 years, mean years of experience in barbering was 12.7 +/- 10. More than half [63.6%] respondents were married. Majority of the respondents [84.8%] were resident of urban areas. 64% barbers have had knowledge that hepatitis B and C can be transmitted through blood transfusion and sexual contact. Only 6.1% had been vaccinated against the hepatitis B. 70% of the barbers disposed of used blades in regular garbage. 82% washed hands before and after shaving each client, 92.4% cleaned their instruments with disinfectant after shaving the, 99.2% barbers change the blade for each client. The knowledge of barbers regarding the transmission of hepatitis B and C was fairly good but majority of the barbers were not vaccinated against Hepatitis B though they were knew that vaccine is available against the hepatitis B

Cause of death in exhumed bodies: an experience in upper Sindh, Pakistan

Exhumation is conducted around the globe when foul play is suspected. In developed world and in some developing countries this procedure is also carried out for identification purposes as well as in insurance claims, and some other civil suits. To determine the cause of death in exhumed bodies. Prospective, descriptive. The Study was conducted in the department of Forensic Medicine, Chandka Medical College, Larkana [CMCL] from Jan:2001 to Dec:2010. A total of 125 bodies were exhumed in various districts of upper Sindh by exhumation board, constituted by Director General Health Services Hyderabad. At the site of graveyard, bodies were digged out. After identification of deceased by near relatives, the bodies were thoroughly examined, viscerae taken for histopathological and chemical analysis, and cause of death determined by consensus in almost all cases. The most common cause of death was firearm injuries 37 [29.6%], followed by blunt trauma 15 [12%], sharp weapon injuries 09 [7.2%], drowning 09 [7.2%], poisoning 07 [5.6%] strangulation 06 [4.8%], infanticide 06 [4.8%]. In about 1/3 of cases cause of death could not be decided due to advanced stage of decomposition. Majority of victims were young males and firearm injury was the commonest cause of death