Epidemiological Study of Female Death within Seven Years of their Marriage in Kanpur Region

Abstract

Introduction: When girls get married, this heralds a major change in their immediate environment. There
is a change of guardianship, separation from the parents and family and creation of a new family. All this
creates a stressful environment around them, which is further aggravated by pregnancy, the upbringing of
children, managing the household and office works. Eventually, when the tolerance breaks down, the brides
are forced to take the extreme step of ending their miserable lives. In the majority of female unnatural deaths,
the family members (parents, husbands, in-laws) may be directly or indirectly responsible for precipitating
the circumstances leading to the death of the victim.
Methodology: Material for the present study comprised of all information from the relatives, guardians,
police or investigating officers pertaining to the cases of ‘unnatural deaths of females within seven years of
their marriage’, brought to the District Mortuary, Kanpur during the period of one year.
Conclusion: The incidence of unnatural deaths in females who died within seven years of their marriage
was estimated to be 4.17% of the total cases autopsied. Maximum numbers of victims were rural Hindu
housewives belonging to lower-middle or middle socioeconomic classes between 18-22 years of age and
most of them had died within three years of their marriage. In cases of homicidal deaths burning and
throttling/strangulation were found as the most common method used Dowry was the most common motive
in homicidal deaths. As such husbands and in-laws were the most common human offenders in homicidal
cases. Hanging was the most common method used in suicidal cases followed by burning. Whereas family
quarrel and marital disharmony were the most common motives behind such deaths.