Citation

Atanda AT. Arab J. Forensic Sci. Forensic Med. 2019; 1(8): 1004-1012.

Copyright

(Copyright © 2019, Naif Arab University for Security Sciences)

DOI

10.26735/16586794.2018.025

PMID

unavailable

Abstract

Paediatric deaths in developing countries, especially in Africa,are often attributed to supernatural causes or to aged family membersor unfriendly neighbors. This study aims to evaluate autopsybasedcauses of death in such cases.All autopsy deaths in children less than 15 years of age in whichhomicide was suspected from January 2001 to December 2015were retrospectively reviewed. Their bio-data, circumstances surroundingdeath and cause of death were extracted, and presentedin this report.In the 15 years reviewed, there were 55 pediatric homicide relatedcases. Based on autopsy findings (coupled with clinical andcircumstantial evidences), manners of death were classified as natural(34%), accidental (31%), homicidal (9%) and unascertainable inthe remaining 26% of the cases.The study highlights the need for forensic pathologists workingin developing countries to be actively involved in all stages ofinvestigating cases of suspected pediatric homicide.

Language: en

Keywords

Autopsy; Forensic Pathology; Forensic Sciences; Homicide; Infanticide; Pediatric