1Post Graduate Student, Department of Forensic Medicine, Government Medical College, Thiruvananthapuram
2Associate Professor of, Forensic Medicine, Government Medical College, Thiruvananthapuram
3Associate Professor of, Forensic Medicine, Government Medical College, Trichur
*Corresponding author: Renju Raveendran Associate Professor of Forensic Medicine Government Medical College, Thiruvananthapuram
Online published on 8 July, 2016.
Significantly there has been an increase in the number of burn deaths especially in Kerala of lately and this study therefore seeks to understand its socio-demographic profile including the manner of death involved. An autopsy based study involving one hundred cases of burn deaths was carried out to get fresh perspectives on the problem. An overwhelming female preponderance was obtained with 78% female and 22% male involvement. Majority of the burn deaths was in the age group 20 to 30, here again showing female preponderance. Victims both male and female were mostly married. Educational status was also found to play an important role especially with regard to accidental burns, where higher educational levels of victims were found associated with decreased numbers of such deaths. In sharp contrast to previous studies, the manner of deaths in this study was found to be predominantly suicidal with 58% cases, followed by accidental at 37% and homicidal 4%.
Autopsy, Burn deaths, socio-demographic, manner of death
