Pattern of suicidal deaths by hanging at tertiary health care centre during COVID pandemic

COVID 19 pandemic continues to pose serious public health problems and also problems related to financial, social and psychological issues. Because of factors such as loneliness, stress, financial issues, many people committed suicide during pandemic. Hanging was the most common method adopted for committing suicide.

The present study was conducted to highlight the current prevalence and pattern of suicidal deaths by hanging during COVID 19 pandemic. We retrospectively reviewed suicidal deaths by hanging autopsied at tertiary medical care centre of Western Maharashtra during the period of 1^st January 2021 to 30^th June 2021. During the study period, 3780 medico-legal autopsies were performed, of which total 368 cases (9.73%) of death due to hanging were observed. Among 368 cases of death due to hanging, 366 (99.45%) were suicidal in nature while 02 cases (0.55%) were accidental in nature. Male outnumbered female with male: female ratio 3.46:1. The maximum number of cases (60.92%) was observed in age group of 21 to 40 years. The soft material was used in 190 cases (51.91%) while hard material was used in 176 cases (48.08%). The ligature material most commonly used for committing hanging was rope (46.17%) followed by saree (28.96%) and dupatta (17.75%). Most of victims 342 (93.44%) committed suicide by hanging in closed space like home and common close places.