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
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- EP ID EP364075
- DOI 10.7860/JCDR/2017/30796.10790
- Views 58
- Downloads 0
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