RESUMO
Violence affects lives of millions of woman worldwide, in all societies, one of the most heinous and shocking forms among them is DOWRY DEATH, is one among the various reasons for suicidal (i.e. abetted suicide) and homicidal deaths of women in India, other being marital infidelity, sexual jealousy etc. This study done at Kempegowda Institute of Medical Sciences and Research Hospital, Bangalore South, was conducted during the period July 2006 to January 2008, aims and objectives were to know the magnitude, socio etiologic profile and methods used for committing suicide/homicide, and various other factors affecting the alarming rise in incidence of dowry death and also to lend valuable suggestion to concerned authorities to prevent this heinous social evil of our society. Most of the victims were aged between 18 to 25 years of age, maximum of the victims died within three years of married life, most commonly between 1 to 2 years of married life. Hanging is the most common method used for dowry deaths.