A review of violent and traumatic deaths in Kathmandu, Nepal.
The objective was to study the external causes of death reported in the autopsy centre in Kathmandu, Nepal. A retrospective review of case report documentation of all violent and traumatic death autopsies was conducted in Kathmandu from mid-July 2000 to mid-July 2004. A total of 4383 autopsies were conducted by the Department of Forensic Medicine in Kathmandu. There were 1072 (25%) cases of suicide, 380 (9%) homicide, 1399 (32%) accidental, 598 (14%) deaths as a result of natural diseases and 923 (21%) undetermined causes of death. The number of males was almost twice that of females (sex ratio 2.2:1). Persons aged 15 to 44 years comprised about two-thirds of the total reported fatalities (65.4%). Suicides were mostly reported due to hanging, homicides mostly due to firearms and explosives, accidents mostly due to road traffic injuries. More than 60% of road traffic injuries resulted among pedestrians. Suicides, homicides and accidental deaths remain a poorly identified public health issue in Nepal. Medico-legal autopsy reports can serve as an important tool in understanding fatalities from violence and injuries for countries similar to Nepal. Strengthening a regular mechanism for compilation and utilization of the information, however, remains a major challenge.
Sharma
Gyanendra
G
National Institute for Injury Prevention, GPO Box 14165, Kathmandu, Nepal. niip@wlink.com.np
Shrestha
Pramod K
PK
Wasti
Harihar
H
Kadel
Tulsi
T
Ghimire
Pratima
P
Dhungana
Saraswati
S
D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D002648:Child; D002675:Child, Preschool; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007223:Infant; D008297:Male; D008485:Medical Audit; D008875:Middle Aged; D009390:Nepal / Q000453:epidemiology; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D014754:Violence / Q000145:classification*; D014947:Wounds and Injuries / Q000401:mortality*