title: Pattern of homicidal deaths autopsied at Penang Hospital, Malaysia, 2007-2009: a preliminary study.
abstract: This article describes the homicide pattern in Penang Island, Malaysia over a three-year period (2007-2009). 65 homicide autopsies were performed at the Department of Forensic Medicine, Penang Hospital over the study period. The homicide rates ranged from 0.01 to 0.09/1000 population, the highest being in the Indian ethnic group. The majority (37%) of victims were in the 20-39 years age group. The male: female ratio was 3:1. The majority of deaths were caused by blunt instruments (46%), followed by stab/slash wounds (25%) and asphyxiation (12%). 63% of homicides occurred in areas served by the police stations at Jalan Patani (23.1%), Sg. Nibong (16.9%), Central (12.3%) and Bayan Lepas (10.9%). 56 (86%) victims were brought in dead to the hospital, while 9 (14%) died after admission. Most (39%) incidences occurred in the morning. The methods of homicide were different from Kuala Lumpur, another highly urbanised area of Malaysia.
authors.affiliation: Department of Forensic Medicine, Penang Hospital, Penang, Malaysia. bhupinder.dr@gmail.com
authors.forename: S
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Bhupinder
authors.forename: T K
authors.initials: TK
authors.lastname: Kumara
authors.forename: A M
authors.initials: AM
authors.lastname: Syed
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D017677:Age Distribution; D001344:Autopsy; D002423:Cause of Death; D005260:Female; D006708:Homicide / Q000208:ethnology / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D006761:Hospitals; D006801:Humans; D008296:Malaysia / Q000453:epidemiology; D008297:Male; D017678:Sex Distribution; D055815:Young Adult