title: Women, homicide and alcohol in Cape Town, South Africa.
abstract: Little is known about the complex circumstances culminating in the homicidal death of a woman. The records of 248 female homicides and suicides admitted to the Salt River State Mortuary between January 1990 and July 1991 were reviewed with specific attention to mode of death and blood alcohol concentration (BAC). Female homicide levels reflected the intensity of violence in specific residential areas. White females were far more likely to die a suicidal, as opposed to homicidal, death (Odds Ratio = 31.94; 95% Confidence Interval, 11.63-90.24). Blunt homicide predominated amongst White females, who were substantially older than the Coloured and African subjects. A BAC greater than 0.1 g per 100 ml was found in 56% of all female homicides studied. An association was found between increasing BAC and sharp homicide amongst women. A high BAC may represent a self-destructive element in a risk-taking situation amongst female homicide victims.
authors.affiliation: Department of Forensic Medicine & Toxicology, Medical School, University of Cape Town, Observatory, South Africa.
authors.forename: L B
authors.initials: LB
authors.lastname: Lerer
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D001741:Black or African American; D044383:Black People; D000431:Ethanol / Q000097:blood*; D005260:Female; D005554:Forensic Medicine; D006708:Homicide / Q000523:psychology / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D006801:Humans; D008875:Middle Aged; D012309:Risk-Taking; D012737:Sex Factors; D013019:South Africa; D013405:Suicide / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D044465:White People; D014949:Wounds, Nonpenetrating / Q000097:blood; D014950:Wounds, Penetrating / Q000097:blood
chemical_list: D000431:Ethanol