Descriptive autopsy of suicidal deaths resulting from alcohol intoxication in Kenya

Abstract

This study sought to find out the magnitude of fatalities resulting from suicide and their relation to alcohol intoxication to inform public health policy on the need for their prevention. Materials were all the bodies that fulfilled the criteria of violent fatal outcomes between June 1 2009, and May 31 2010. Bodies were categorised by gender and divided into 10 age groups of 10 years each. A complete forensic autopsy examination was done on each. This is a prospective study of suicidal deaths in Nairobi from June 1, 2009, to May 31, 2010. The study was undertaken at the city Mortuary, Nairobi. All cases of suicidal deaths for twelve consecutive months were included. Alcohol level estimation was done on a total of 400 study subjects. The 400 were consecutively selected as every fifth subject. This was a purposeful sampling. Data was entered on a proforma datasheet. The study concluded that violent deaths are a preventable public health problem in Kenya. Suicide contributes to violent deaths, the commonest mode of committing suicide is hanging, and suicidal deaths in Kenya are associated with alcohol intoxication. The study recommends that substance abuse should be interrogated more as a cause of self-destruction.