A Cross Sectional Study of Medico-Legal Deaths in Adolescent Age Group Autopsied at Tertiary Care Hospital in Central Karnataka

Authors

  • Madhusudan Pai Intern/CRRI S S Institute of Medical Sciences &; Research Center, Davangere – 577005.
  • Siddesh R C Associate Professor, Dept. of Forensic Medicine &; Toxicology, S S Institute of Medical Sciences &; Research Center, Davangere – 577005.
  • Vijayakumar B Jatti Professor & HOD Dept. of Forensic Medicine & Toxicology, S S Institute of Medical Sciences & Research Center, Davangere – 577005.

DOI:

https://doi.org/10.37506/8z8xsd61

Keywords:

Adolescent’s deaths, Accidents, Suicides, Autopsy.

Abstract

Background: An adolescent is defined as an individual aged between 11-19 years. They constitute about 21% of the Indian population. Mortality and morbidity occurring in this age group are mostly due to preventable causes. Mortalities inadolescents are cause of concern because they are the future of nation forming a major demographic and economic force. The purposeof this study is to analysis mortality in adolescents.

Methods:The present study is a hospital based, cross sectional and observational study of autopsy reports, police inquest forms, medico-legal case register of medico-legal deaths of adolescent age group victims of ages from 11 to 19 yrs. for a period of three years from January 01, 2020 to December 31, 2022 autopsied at department of Forensic Medicine & Toxicology and in patient case records from Medical Record Department.The cases were evaluated according to age, sex, the cause and manner of death and findings of toxicological analysis. Data was classified and statistically analyzed.

Conclusion: The majority of adolescent deaths were found to be related to external causes, in particular unintentionalinjuries. The accidental deaths accounts for 75.75% followed suicidal deaths (21.21%). Use of appropriate safety measures and strict law enforcementmay significantly reduce accidental deaths in adolescents. Suicides may be prevented by identification of risk factorssignificant family support and counselling by child psychologist.

References

Adolescence. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Adolescence as accessed on 26th Dec 2024.

Sivagurunathan C, Umadevi R, Rama R, Gopalkrishanan S. Adolescent Health: present status and its related programmes in India. Are we in right direction? J Clin Diagn Res. 2015; 9(3):1-6.

Ulucay TG, Asirdizer M, Yavuz MS. The analysis of medico legal deaths in adolescents and teenagers in Izmir (Turkey). Ege Tip Dergisi. 2014;53(1):25-32.

Asirdizer M, Canturk G, Sari H, Cansunar FN. Analysis of deaths occurred in puberty, early adolescent and late adolescent periods. Kirangil SB. Proceedings of 1st National Congress of Forensic Medicine (1-4 November 1994). Istanbul: Council of Forensic Medicine;1998:1-12.

National Adolescent health information centre. Fact sheet onMortality: Adolescents and young adults. 2006;1-4.

Lozano R, Naghavi M, Foreman K, Lim S, Shibuya K, Aboyans V. Global and regional mortality from 235 causes of death for 20 age groups in 1990 and 2010: a systematic analysis for the Global Burden of Disease Study 2010. Lancet 2012;380(9859): 2095-128.

Lalchandra V, Vinod KG, Sachin KM.Analysis of medico legal deaths in adolescence: An Autopsy based study at coaching city, Kota. J Indian Acad Forensic Med.2021; 43(2):131-134.

Minino A. Mortality among teenagers aged 12-19 years: United States from 1999-2006. NCHS Data Brief. 2010;37(1):1-8.

https://ncrb.gov.in/en/crime-india-2016-0accessed on 10th January 2024.

Sharma BR Harish D. Sharma V. et al. Road Traffic Accidents: Ademo graphic and topo graphic analysis. Med. SciLaw2001;41(3):266-274.

AggarwalP, H andaR, WaliJ.P. Common Poisoning in India: Proceedings of National Work shop on Practical and Emergency Toxicology. 1998;(1):25-31

Sleet DA, Ballesteros MF, Borse NN. A review of unintentional injuries in adolescents. Annu Rev Public Health. 2010;195-212.

Harish S, Hugar BS, Girish CYP. A prospective study of pattern of suicidal deaths among children in Bangalore during the period 2007-2009. Indian Journal of Forensic Medicine and Toxicology 2013;7(1):254-287.

Kumar A, Pandey SK, Singh TB. Epidemiological Study of Unnatural Death among Children’s in Varanasi Area (India). International Journal of Science and Research (IJSR) 2014; 3:1438-41.

Kanchan T, Menezes R G. Mortalities among children and adolescents in Manipal, Southern India. Journal of Trauma-Injury Infection & Critical Care 2008; 64:1600-7.

Peden AE, Barnsley PD, Queiroga AC. The Association between School holidays & unintentional fatal drowning among children and adolescents aged 5-17 yrs. J Paediatr Child Health. 2019 May; 55(5); 533-538.

Colorado Health and Environmental Data. Colorado Health Information Dataset (CoHID) Colorado Death Database Query. November 2014. 94. http://www.chd.dphe.state.co.us/cohid/default.aspx accessed on 7th November 2023.

B L Meel. A study on the incidence of suicide by hanging in the sub-region of Transkei. Journal of Clinical Forensic Medicine.2003;10(3):153-7.

Wirthwein DP, Barnard JJ, Prahlow JA. Suicide by drowning: a 20-year review. J Forensic Sci. Jan 2002;47(1):131-6.

Ghatak S. SUICIDES IN INDIA: Where the young don’t want to live.Available at: http://indiatogether.org/suicide-society; Cited on 5/11/2023.

Meel BL. Unnatural deaths among children in the Transkei region of South Africa. Med Sci Law 2008; 48:232-6.

Downloads

Published

2024-08-02

Issue

Section

Original Article

How to Cite

A Cross Sectional Study of Medico-Legal Deaths in Adolescent Age Group Autopsied at Tertiary Care Hospital in Central Karnataka. (2024). Medico Legal Update, 24(3), 48-54. https://doi.org/10.37506/8z8xsd61