Comparative analysis of unnatural deaths in Faisalabad during 2018-2022 – A raising trend.

Abstract

Objective: To assess the pattern of unnatural deaths in Faisalabad during the last five years, to determine the gender and age group mostly affected and to explore the increasing trend if any. Study Design: Retrospective Cross-sectional Descriptive study. Setting: Department of Forensic Medicine and Toxicology, Punjab Medical College, Faisalabad. Period: January 2018 to December 2022. Methods: Subjects of the study were victims of unnatural death in areas covered by Police stations where the postmortem was performed in the Mortuary of Punjab Medical College / Faisalabad Medical University. Data was collected from respective official Police records, FIRs and Postmortem reports and recorded on pre-structured proformas. It was categorized on the basis of manner of death, type of weapon involved, age groups involved and gender. Results: Out of a total of 1340 autopsies conducted, 1024(76.4%) were males and 316(23.6%) were females. The male to female ratio was 3.2:1. Majority of the victims belonged to the 30–39-year age group i.e. 338 (25.2%) followed by the 20-29-year age group with 333 (24.8%) cases. The manner of death was homicidal in 896(67%) cases followed by 320(24%) accidental and 77(6%) of suicide. Firearm was the most commonly used weapon claiming 490 (36.6%) lives followed by RTA with 254 (19%) cases. September was the month in which maximum cases were reported (140,10.4%). Conclusion: Males are the major victims of unnatural deaths, with firearm weapons claiming the majority of lives. There is a rising trend in the number of unnatural deaths as the years go by and strict measures need to be implemented to keep a check and balance on the availability and easy access to firearms and strict traffic rules should be implemented.