A Prospective Study to Ascertain the Profile of Unnatural Deaths at Basaveshwara Teaching and General Hospital Mortuary, Gulbarga (Kalaburagi)-A Research Paper

The aim of our study was to characterize the cases of unnatural deaths admitted to the Basaveshwara Teaching & General Hospital (BTGH), M. R. Medical College, Kalaburagi. This is prospective study conducted at mortuary of Basaveshwara Teaching and General Hospital, Kalaburagi, Karnataka between November 2013 to August 2015, which included 151 cases of unnatural deaths. Burns (49.01%) constituted the maximum number of cases, followed by RTA (31.79%), poisoning (16.56%), fall from height (1.32%) and bites and stings (1.32%). Out of 151 cases of unnatural deaths, 81 (53.64%) cases were males and 70 (46.36%) cases were females. The largest number of victims was in the age group 21–30 years (29.80%). Maximum numbers of the victims (76.82%) were married. Majority of the victims (31.12%) were house wife, followed by (23.52%) were employed in service. Most of the victims (80.13%) were having low level education. Majority of cases (67.55%) were from rural area. Maximum numbers of victims were Hindu (89.40%). Most of the cases (42.38%) were belongs to class V socioeconomic status followed by (26.49%) were belongs to class IV. Maximum number of cases (36.42%) were reported in summer season followed by (34.44%) in winter seasons. Majority of incidents were occurred in the afternoon hours (35.10%). Maximum numbers of victims (33.77%) were survived for less than 24 hours, followed by (29.14%) victims for 3 days to 1 week. Most of the cases (80.79%) were accidental in nature.