Sudden and Unexpected Deaths among Women of Reproductive age – Qualitative Analysis of Risk Factors
Journal Title: Journal of Clinical and Diagnostic Research - Year 2017, Vol 11, Issue 10
Abstract
Introduction: Unnatural deaths in women of reproductive age (range 12-49 years) have a serious psychological and social impact on the family and community. Women of reproductive age comprise a vulnerable section of the society as they are confronted with menstrual and pregnancy related stress factors in addition to the stressors prevalent in the general population. Aim: To analyse the socio-epidemiological and medicolegal factors involved in unnatural deaths among women of reproductive age. Materials and Methods: This cross-sectional study was conducted on 1379 unnatural deaths of women of reproductive age subjected to medico-legal autopsy during a period of five years. Information was based on documents submitted by police at the time of autopsy and postmortem reports. Various demographic and medico-legal parameters were studied in detail. Results: Unnatural deaths among women of reproductive age were 1415 (25.2%) cases of total autopsy. Road traffic accidents with 684 (49.6%) cases followed by poisoning in 157 (11.3%), hanging in 133 (9.6%), burn in 114 (8.2%) and railway injuries in 108 (7.8%) cases were the leading causes of death. Nature of death was accidental in 877 (63.6%) cases followed by suicide in 434 (31.5%) cases and homicide in 68 (4.9%) cases. Dowry related deaths accounted for 247 (22.7%) deaths. Poisoning in 152 (35%) cases followed by hanging in 133 (30.6%) and burn in 71 (16.4%) cases respectively were the most common methods of suicide. Strangulation or smothering with 33 (48.5%) cases was preferred method of homicide. Road traffic and railway injuries in 727 (82.8%) cases constituted the bulk of accidental deaths. Married women with 1087 (78.9%) cases and housewives in 917 (66.5%) cases from combined families in 829 (60.1%) cases from rural background in 875 (63.5%) cases with low socioeconomic in 912 (66.1%) cases and poor education in 739 (53.6%) cases were the most vulnerable victims. Conclusion: There is a strong association of various socioepidemiological and medico-legal factors with respect to unnatural deaths among women of reproductive age group. To bring down the incidences of such deaths, multipronged preventive measures have been suggested.
Authors and Affiliations
KIRAN KUMAR PATNAIK, HEMANTA PANIGRAHI, SUDEEPA DAS, SACHIDANANDA MOHANTY
Keywords
Related Articles
- EP ID EP364075
- DOI 10.7860/JCDR/2017/30796.10790
- Views 67
- Downloads 0
Six Minute Walk Test: A Tool for Predicting Mortality in Chronic Pulmonary Diseases
Introduction: Six Minute Walk Test (6MWT) is a simple test used to measure exercise capacity in Chronic Pulmonary Diseases (CPDs). Decreased exercise capacity significantly affects the quality of life. The 6MWT is a know...
The Effect of Chamomile Flower Essence on Pain Severity after Elective Caesarean Section under Spinal Anaesthesia: A Randomized Clinical Trial
Introduction: Nowadays, herbal essence and aromatherapy are used as a form of complementary medicine and nonpharmacological interventions alongside modern medicine and pharmacological interventions. Aim: To evaluate the...
Osteoma of the Middle Turbinate Presenting with Frontal Lobe Abscess and Seizure
Osteomas are the most common benign tumours of the sinonasal tract. Even though their location in the sinuses is well known, turbinate osteomas are quite rare. We report one such case of a 26-year-old female who presente...
Stature Estimation Utilising Arm Span Measurements in Turkish Adults
ABSTRACT Introduction: Stature is a significant biological profile for evaluating growth and development of an individual. It also provides important evidence in the forensic investigation process to the establishment of...
Does Ear Morphology Establish Automatic Extraction of Soft Biometric Traits?
ABSTRACT Introduction: The external appearance of auricle varies between ethnic groups. However, there have been no studies on external ear morphometry correlating soft biometrics of the same individual. Therefore, a mor...