Citation

Nwachokor NF, Uchendu OJ, Ijomone EA. Niger. Med. J. 2019; 60(3): 122-125.

Affiliation

Department of Morbid Anatomy/Histopathology, Central Hospital, Sapele, Delta State, Nigeria.

Copyright

(Copyright © 2019, Nigerian Medical Association, Publisher Medknow Publications)

DOI

10.4103/nmj.NMJ_142_18

PMID

31543563

PMCID

PMC6737794

Abstract

BACKGROUND: Homicide is a common cause of unnatural death and an index of the level of security of the state. The aim of this study was to analyze all autopsied unnatural homicide cases in Warri, Nigeria from 2003 to 2016 with emphasis on age, sex, regional distribution of injury, and circumstance of death.

MATERIALS AND METHODS: Six hundred and seventy-four cases were studied and relevant information extracted from police and autopsy records. These information were analyzed using SPSS 21.

RESULTS: Unnatural homicide cases accounted for 69.1% of 975 medicolegal deaths autopsied in this region, with a male to female distribution of 14:1. The mean age of the victims was 33.2 years with the highest incidence occurring in the 3^rd decade. Firearms, sharp weapons, blunt weapons, suffocation, and burning were the methods used in 426 (63.2%), 162 (24.0%), 73 (10.8%), 11 (1.7%), and 2 (0.3%) cases, respectively. The chest, the head, and the neck were the most common parts of the body affected representing 275 (40.8%), 162 (24%), and 52 (7.7%) of cases.

CONCLUSION: Unnatural death as a result of homicide is very common in the study area and mainly perpetrated using firearms and sharps with young males being the most vulnerable age group. The head, chest, and neck are more commonly affected regions of the body.

Language: en

Keywords

Autopsy; cause of death; firearm; homicide; injury