Pattern of unnatural deaths - a cross sectional study of autopsies at mortuary of KLES'S Hospital and MRC, Belgaum.

ABSTRACT

Unnatural deaths claim a substantial number of lives in developing countries like India. Among the various types of deaths RTAs account for majority of deaths followed by burns, poisoning, fall from height, animal bite and hanging. Accidental deaths accounted for 87.5% cases followed by suicidal (10%) and homicidal (2.5%) deaths. Males (80.83%) were more commonly involved as compared to females (19.17%). The types of unnatural deaths encountered in our study were RTAs (61.67%), burns (15%), FFH (7.5%), poisoning (6.67%), assault (2.5%), snakebite (1.67%), scorpion bite (0.83%), death due to blast injury (1.67%), death due to bull gore injury (0.83%), hanging (0.83%) and accidental fall of stone on head (0.83%). Poisoning 7 (58.33%) was the most common method of self-destruction followed by burns 2 (16.67%), FFH 2 (16.67%) and hanging 1 (8.33%). In homicidal deaths, stabs 2 (66.67%) were the most common type of death followed by 1 (33.33%) case of combination of stab and blunt force impact. Preventive measures should be adopted where ever possible and prompt steps should be taken to decrease the incidence of road traffic accidents which take a lion’s share among the unnatural deaths.