Prevalence and causes of violent deaths in Nairobi Kenya: An autopsy study

Abstract

This study aimed to investigate fatalities resulting from violent deaths to inform public health policy on the need for their prevention. This is a descriptive prospective study of violent deaths in Nairobi. The study included all cases of deaths from violent deaths for twelve consecutive months. Data was entered on a proforma datasheet. Data were analysed using SPSS. Out of 2566 autopsy cases in one year, between June 1, 2009, and May 31 2010, 47.3 per cent of deaths were due to homicide, 43.6 per cent deaths were due to accidents, and 9.1 per cent deaths were due to suicide. Among homicides, 41.5 per cent were due to gunshots, 39.3 per cent were due to blunt injuries, 4.5 per cent were due to stabbing, and 0.4 per cent were due to strangulation. Police shootings comprised 95 per cent of the gunshots, and mob justice comprised 57.3 per cent of the blunt injuries. Among accidents, road traffic accidents contributed 87.3 per cent, with pedestrians as the majority at 46.9 per cent. Amongst the other accidents, burns contributed 35.6 per cent. Among suicide, hanging contributed to 79 per cent. A p-value of 0.03 (95 per cent confidence interval) was found when the data were analysed using an F-test. There was a statistically significant difference (p=0.03) between violent death and alcohol intoxication. Violent deaths require to be studied in the background of the social setting of the death.