Citation

Manoj TM, Raveendran R, Balaram NA. Med. Legal Update 2016; 16(2): 115-119.

Copyright

(Copyright © 2016, R.K. Sharma and Institute of Medico-Legal Publications)

DOI

10.5958/0974-1283.2016.00071.2

PMID

unavailable

Abstract

Significantly there has been an increase in the number of burn deaths especially in Kerala of lately and this study therefore seeks to understand its socio-demographic profile including the manner of death involved. An autopsy based study involving one hundred cases of burn deaths was carried out to get fresh perspectives on the problem. An overwhelming female preponderance was obtained with 78% female and 22% male involvement. Majority of the burn deaths was in the age group 20 to 30, here again showing female preponderance. Victims both male and female were mostly married. Educational status was also found to play an important role especially with regard to accidental burns, where higher educational levels of victims were found associated with decreased numbers of such deaths. In sharp contrast to previous studies, the manner of deaths in this study was found to be predominantly suicidal with 58% cases, followed by accidental at 37% and homicidal 4%. © 2016, World Informations Syndicate. All rights reserved.

Language: en

Keywords

adult; human; homicide; suicide; burn; Autopsy; female; male; accident; aged; autopsy; Manner of death; prevalence; sex difference; death; major clinical study; sex ratio; marriage; age distribution; middle aged; demography; educational status; nutritional status; Article; descriptive research; very elderly; married person; single (marital status); Socio-demographic; Burn deaths