Spectrum of unnatural female deaths in Manipur: A postmortem study

Abstract

Background: Unnatural deaths may be caused by unintentional or intentional injuries. Unintentional injuries are mainly accidental, while intentional injuries may be suicidal or homicidal. Female deaths due to unnatural causes, especially in the first few years of their married life, have been observed in Indian society for the last few decades. Materials and Methods: This retrospective study was conducted in a tertiary care teaching hospital during the period of 10 years from January 2004 to December 2013, to assess the pattern of unnatural female deaths in the state of Manipur. A thorough analysis of the history and postmortem findings was carried out, and the findings were statistically analyzed. Results: Out of the total of 4313 cases brought for autopsy, 320 cases (7.42%) were of unnatural female deaths. The year 2004 recorded the highest number of female deaths, and the number of cases declined in the following years. The maximum number of victims was observed in the age group of 21-40 years (36.3%); the majority of the victims were married (70.3%). Road traffic accident victims constituted 68.4% of the cases, while 13.1% were victims of firearm injuries and bomb blasts. Most of the cases were accidental deaths (72.5%), while 23.75% were homicidal in nature. Conclusion: The scenario of unnatural deaths among females in Manipur is different from those of the other parts of the country. Female deaths because of unnatural causes are mostly due to road traffic accidents.