EPIDEMEOLOGY OF HOMICIDAL DEATHS;
IN SARGODHA, PAKISTAN
DOI:
https://doi.org/10.29309/TPMJ/2013.20.05.1509Keywords:
Homicide,, Firearms,, Autopsy,, Seasonal variation,, Manner of deathAbstract
Objectives: 1). To observe & analyze the different aspects of homicidal deaths in Sargodha in terms of age, sex, weapon
involved and seasonal variation. 2). To compare it with other studies conducted in Pakistan & all over the world. Study Design: Noninterventional
descriptive study. Place & duration of study: The study was done on autopsies conducted at mortuary, District
Headquarter Teaching Hospital Sargodha from January 2012 to December 2012 (one year). Material & Methods: 82 cases of homicidal
deaths which were brought by police for autopsy examination at DHQ Teaching Hospital Sargodha from Jan. 2012 to Dec. 2012. These
cases include both sexes of all age groups. Manner of death was decided on the basis of police inquest & autopsy report. The relevant
data was collected on prescribed performa and statistically analyzed. Results: On analysis of recorded data, the homicidal rate in
Sargodha, Pakistan is 7.59 / 100,000 populations per year. Homicide manner of death was observed 51.25% of total autopsies. 39% of
the victims were in the third decade of life. Males predominated females by a ratio of 2.28:01 Firearm was used in most of homicidal
deaths i.e. 67%. A rise in homicidal cases was observed in the months of summer i.e. June to September 2012 and a fall was observed in
the months of winter i.e. November, December, January and February, 2012. Conclusions: Homicide rate is high as compared to other
manners of death in Sargodha. Firearm is the major weapon used for committing homicide.
