Unnatural deaths in western Maharashtra: An autopsy based ten-year cross-sectional analytical study Dhokia Gautam R1,*, Rautji Ravi2, Shivakumar DK3, Manral Ishita4, Radhakrishna KV5, Bansal Sandeep6, Makhani CS7 1Assistant Professor, Department of Forensic Medicine & Toxicology, Armed Forces Medical College, Pune 2Professor & Head, Department of Forensic Medicine & Toxicology, Bharti Vidyapeeth Medical College, Pune 3Assistant Professor, Department of Forensic Medicine & Toxicology, Navodaya Medical College, Raichur 4Associate Professor, Department of Forensic Medicine & Toxicology, Armed Forces Medical College, Pune 5Professor, Department of Forensic Medicine & Toxicology, Military Hospital, Agra 6Assistant Professor, Department of Forensic Medicine & Toxicology, Acharya Shri Chander College of Medical Science and Hospital, Jammu 7Professor & Head, Department of Forensic Medicine & Toxicology, Armed Forces Medical College, Pune *Corresponding Author Dr Gautam R. Dhokia Assistant Professor, Department of Forensic Medicine & Toxicology, Armed Forces Medical College, Pune, Email: drgautamdhokia@gmail.com
Online published on 19 March, 2025. Abstract Introduction Unnatural deaths continue to be a matter of global concern due to their multifaceted implications on society, healthcare and public safety, with varying aetiologies and demographics. This study seeks to explore the distinctive patterns, causes, and demographics associated with unnatural deaths in Western Maharashtra. By juxtaposing these findings with Maharashtra and Indian trends, we aim to elucidate whether this region deviates from established patterns or follows a similar trajectory. Methodology A retrospective cross-sectional analytical study was conducted on the autopsy cases post-mortem records of unnatural deaths reporting to medico-legal postmortem center between the period of 2009 to 2019. Results A total of 1,334 cases were examined, with males comprising 71% and females 29% of the sample. The average age was 36.9 years, with slight variations between genders. Males were predominantly victims of road traffic accidents (70%), followed by suicide (28%) and homicide (2%). In contrast, females primarily succumbed to road traffic accidents (76%), followed by suicide (20%) and homicide (4%). The age group of 21- 30 years saw the highest occurrence (30%) of unnatural deaths, with road traffic accidents (47%) being the leading specific cause, trailed by hanging (19%), drowning (8%), and poisoning (7%). Conclusion The findings emphasize the need for genderspecific and age-tailored interventions to curb unnatural deaths in Western Maharashtra, shedding light on the unique regional factors influencing these fatalities. Comprehensive prevention strategies and collaboration among government agencies, healthcare providers, law enforcement, and community organizations is paramount to effectively address the multifaceted issue of unnatural deaths. Top Keywords Unnatural deaths, Autopsy, Accidents, Suicide, Homicide. Top |