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. Thereis a change of guardianship, separation from the parents and family and creation of a new family. All thiscreates a stressful environment around them, which is further aggravated by pregnancy, the upbringing ofchildren, managing the household and office works. Eventually, when the tolerance breaks down, the bridesare 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 precipitatingthe 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 oftheir 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 marriagewas estimated to be 4.17% of the total cases autopsied. Maximum numbers of victims were rural Hinduhousewives belonging to lower-middle or middle socioeconomic classes between 18-22 years of age andmost of them had died within three years of their marriage. In cases of homicidal deaths burning andthrottling/strangulation were found as the most common method used Dowry was the most common motivein homicidal deaths. As such husbands and in-laws were the most common human offenders in homicidalcases. Hanging was the most common method used in suicidal cases followed by burning. Whereas familyquarrel and marital disharmony were the most common motives behind such deaths.