Profile of unnatural deaths in Manipal, Southern India 1994-2004.
Pattern of unnatural deaths is a reflection of the prevailing social set up and mental health status of the region. In an attempt to understand the magnitude and pattern of unnatural deaths in Manipal, Southern India, a 11-year retrospective study was carried out in the Department of Forensic Medicine, Kasturba Medical College, Manipal. The study revealed a rise in road traffic fatalities (37%) that constituted the majority of autopsies carried out followed by death due to poisoning and burns. Male preponderance was quite evident (2.5:1) except for death due to burns where ratio was reversed (1:2.9). People in 3rd decade were most prone to such fatalities. Of the total medicolegal autopsies conducted in this period, the manner of death was unnatural in 98% of the cases and 71% of them were accidental in nature.
Kumar
T S Mohan
TS
Department of Forensic Medicine, Kasturba Medical College, Manipal-576104, Karnataka, India. mohankumarts@gmail.com
Kanchan
Tanuj
T
Yoganarasimha
K
K
Kumar
G Pradeep
GP
D000063:Accidents, Traffic / Q000401:mortality*; D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000367:Age Factors; D001344:Autopsy / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D002056:Burns / Q000401:mortality; D002423:Cause of Death; D002648:Child; D002675:Child, Preschool; D005260:Female; D005554:Forensic Medicine; D006801:Humans; D007194:India / Q000453:epidemiology; D007223:Infant; D007231:Infant, Newborn; D008297:Male; D008499:Medical Records; D008875:Middle Aged; D011041:Poisoning / Q000401:mortality; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D012737:Sex Factors