Epidemiological Study of Suicidal and Homicidal Burn Injuries Admitted in Tertiary Care Hospitals of Belgaum District, Karnataka State, India

Burn injuries due to attempted suicide and homicide are one of the leading causes of death and disability globally. In view of the above, this study was done with the objectives to elucidate epidemiological and outcome characteristics of alleged suicidal and homicidal burn injuries admitted in two tertiary care hospitals in South India. The present cross sectional study of all suicidal and homicidal burn injuries admitted in two tertiary care hospitals of Belgaum city during the study period from April 2004 to March 2005 were included after informed consent from the patients themselves or from close family members.. Out of the total cases, 35(60.34%) were suicidal and 23(39.66%) were homicidal. Females contributed to 21(60%) of the suicidal and 17(73.91%) of the homicidal cases. Sixty percent (60%) of attempted suicidal burn injuries and 34.78% of homicidal victims had TBSA more than 80% and was found to be statistically significant In suicidal injuries, mortality was 81.80% and in homicidal cases it was 52.17%.