Causes of unnatural deaths among children and adolescents in northern India – A qualitative analysis of postmortem data

Abstract

Aim of the study was to ascertain the various causes of unnatural deaths among 1–19 years analysing the postmortem data in a regional referral centre of northern India. A retrospective observational study from the data base was done for the same. All unnatural deaths in children aged 1–19 years from April 2010 to March 2011 were identified from the postmortem database. The children were classified into 3 groups-1–5 years, 6–10 years and 11–19 years separately for males and females. The various modes of unnatural deaths were identified and analysed. Retrospective analysis of Postmortem data during one year revealed total of 434 unnatural deaths in children aged 1–19 years. The most vulnerable age group included children between 11–19 years (74.5%). Females (51.6%) marginaly outnumbered the males (48.4%). Flame Burns (58.3%) was the commonest cause of death in all age followed by road traffic accidents 15%, electrocution 7.8% & Poisoning accounted for 6%. The most frequent victims were adolescents (74%) almost 3 times that of other age group.This study showed Adolescents were the most common victims of the unnatural death with flame burn being the most common cause followed by RTA, electrocution and poisoning.