Major Predisposing Factors Influencing the Suicide by Hanging: A Retrospective Study from a Tertiary Care Government Hospital in Kerala State, South India

ABSTRACT

Introdcution A variable incidence of hanging is found assecond major group among the total number of autopsiesdone in the Department of Forensic Medicine, Govt. MedicalCollege, Calicut, Kerala state, South India. The incidences arefound to be varying according to the social and economic statusof the society. This retrospective study was done in a tertiarycare Government Hospital to find the major predisposingfactors influencing the suicide by hanging.Material and Methods: Case history were taken in detailfrom questionnaires to the relations of the deceased and fromPolice. The results were analyzed on the basis of history,postmortem findings and results of laboratory investigations.Results: The age group 16-25 was found to be the mostprevalent (75%) for suicidal hanging. Among the religion,Hindu religion showed the highest (80%) number. Morecases were found among the manual labourers and lowermiddle class people. People without children were moreprone to suicide by hanging. Among the precipitating factors,mental illness was the highest factor. Fracture of hyoid bonewas found during autopsy in majority of cases of completehanging.Conclusion: Psychological upset and educational statusplayed an important role in suicidal hanging. The highestincidence was seen among those with lower educational status.Hence, proper identification of such people and presentingthem to effective counselling may reduce the incident rate.