Citation

Ochicha O, Mohammed AZ, Nwokedi EE, Umar AB. Niger. Postgrad. Med. J. 2003; 10(1): 16-18.

Affiliation

Department of Pathology, Aminu Kano Teaching Hospital, Kano.

Copyright

(Copyright © 2003, National Postgraduate Medical College of Nigeria)

DOI

unavailable

PMID

12717459

Abstract

Medicolegal death (MLD) is a relatively uncommon subject of study in Nigeria. This prospective review of 200 cases in Kano found the commonest cause to be road traffic accidents (48.5%) followed by homicides (34%) and natural deaths (5%). Gang violence among local youths with blunt and sharp weapons accounted for most of the homicides. MLDs most frequently (60.5%) occurred in the 3rd to 5th decades of life and males were predominant (M:F = 3.5:1). Our findings differed significantly from MLDs in the developed world where natural deaths were overwhelmingly preponderant. The prevalence of MLDs in Kano can be substantially reduced if the recommendations of this study are implemented.

Language: en