1Medical Officer on SUPY Duty, Swasthya Bhavan, Kolkata, West Bengal
2Assist. Prof, Dept of Forensic Medicine, SMIMS, Gangtok
3Post Graduate Trainee, Dept. of Forensic Medicine, NRS Medical College, Kolkata, West Bengal
4Assist. Prof, Dept of Forensic Medicine, ICARE Institute of Medical Science & Research & Dr. B. C. Roy Hospital, Haldia
5Prof, Dept of Forensic Medicine, Tripura Medical College & Dr. BRAM Teaching Hospital, Tripura
*Corresponding Author: E-mail: dravijitroy01@gmail.com
Online published on 14 September, 2015.
High incidence of unnatural deaths of young newly married females following disputes over the dowry is a dark spot on the noble tradition of our society. Sadly, awareness and education, particularly of young people and women, has not helped to control the situation. The aim of the present study is to describe the different pattern and socio demographic profile of dowry death cases. This study is a retrospective, observational Study which was conducted between July 2012 to June 2014 at the Department of Forensic Medicine & Toxicology, Nil Ratan Sircar Medical College & Hospital, Kolkata; where 216 cases were taken out of total 5589 autopsies conducted during the study period. Most of the victims of dowry deaths were aged between 18to 20 years (43%), religiously belonging to Hindu (67%). Joint family (83%) of lower socio-economic status (40%) in rural (58%) residence, housewife (73%) being educated up to primary school (55%) were predominant. Most common cause of death was due to burn injury (67%).
Dowry death, Socio-demographic profile, Retrospective, Observational study, Autopsy
