Risk Factors, Cause and Site of Firearm Injuries: A Prospective and Retrospective Study

Abstract

Firearm injury (FI) is one of the most important causes of death among military personnel. According to the World Health Organization, firearms are used in two thirds of all homicide cases and one fifth of suicide cases. In our study a total of 115 cases were included who admitted in the Hillah Teaching Hospital from 1st October 2016 to 30th Mach 2017. The highest numbers of firearms injuries cases were in the age group of 21–30 years, that was 71(61.74%) followed by 31-40 years 16(13.91%). Our study also distributed all cases according to marital status (married and single) and age groups (8-10, 11-20, 21-30, 31-40, 41-50, 51-60, and 61-70) were 82(71.30%) in married and 33(28.69%) in single. Distribution of firearms injuries cases according to age groups and education status (Primary, Secondary and College) that there were 41(35.65%) in primary status, 57(49.56%) in secondary status and 17(14.78%) in college status. Distribution of firearms injuries cases according to age and Precipitating Factors (Political Protest, Psychiatric Illness, Family Quarrels, Marital Disharmony, Love /Friendship Affairs) were 52(45.21%), 4(3.47%), 4(3.47%), 3(2.60%) and 4(3.47%) respectively. Also have been distributed according to gender: 113(98.26%) in male and 2(1.73%) in female. Distribution of firearms injuries cases according to age groups and causes (fights, accidents, stray bullet and suicide) recorded 58(50.43%), 46(40.00%), 9(7.83%), and 2(1.74%) respectively. This study also included distribution of firearms cases according to number of cases and months during period 2010–2016.