Socio-demographic profile of hanging cases at New Civil Hospital, Surat

Abstract

Background: Violent asphyxial deaths are one of the important causes of death nowadays. For reasons not known to others, victims end their life by committing suicide. Hanging is one of the preferred mode of committing suicide, as it supposedly produces painless death as compared to others modes of suicide, and also because it produces instantaneous death. The present study is for lookinginto demographic profile of the victims of hanging for studying the predisposing factors, and to take preventing measures. Aims & Objectives: To analyze various demographic and social aspects of hanging. Materials and Methods: A profile of 87 cases of death due to hanging in the present prospective study was done at FMTD, GMC and NCH, Surat, between October 2011 and September 2013. The observations of the study were compared with previous studies. Results: In the present study, the incidence rate of hanging cases was 2.20%. The major age group involved was 21 to 30 years. Majority of hanging cases were found in males. Incidence of hanging was recorded high in married females compared to marriedmales. Majority of victims chose home to end their lives. Majority of the persons were non migrant in this study. Majority of victims had gained education more than secondary level. In most of the cases, total monthly income of family was less than 10,000. The most common ligature material used was dupatta. Conclusion: Hanging among male is more common than female. Married persons have more incidence of hanging. Hanging is more common in less educated persons. Low income is a risk factor for hanging. Persons prefer home for hanging over other places. Persons prefer soft, easily available material for hanging. So by identifying these risk factors we can initiate appropriate steps to reduce deaths due to hanging.