A 30 years (1976–2006) autopsy study of 1298 of intentional deaths from a territory care hospital of North-West India revealed an abrupt rise in its proportion since 1991, involving the most productive age group of 15 to 25yrs (46% males,53% females) with male preponderance(male: female ratio: 1.52:1). Majority (71% males & 69% females) were married and 51% belonged to urban area. The proportion of female intentional deaths decreased from 43% (1976–1981) to 37% (1986–1991) and then increased to 41% in 2001–2006. Sixty-nine percent victims consumed toxic substances, 24.5% had self-immolation and 4% perished their lives by jumping in front of moving trains. Among the various toxic substances, barbiturate (75%) followed by organophosphate/carbamate (19%) and copper sulphate (6%) in 1976–81 and between 1981–86, aluminum phosphide(37%) and barbiturate(37%) followed by organophosphorus compounds (18%) and since then aluminum-phosphide were the most preferred to accomplish the intentional deaths. Dwelling units (68%) followed by workplace (17%), fields/hotels (9%) were the commonest place of occurrence. Proportion of intentional deaths at dwelling units had decreased from 80% in both genders to 59% in males and 69% in females whereas at work place it increased from 5% and 7% to 23% and 18% in females and males respectively during the study period. Failure in examination (8% males, 28% females) and sibling rivalry (5% males and 22% females) in children, unemployment (20% males and 15% females) followed by family/property disputes(19% males, 11% females), marital disputes, (8% males, 28% females) in adults and chronic illness (5% males, 16% females) in the senior citizens were the common circumstances leading to intentional deaths.
Autopsy, Profile, Spectrum, Intentional deaths
