Profile of Suspicious Deaths of Women died within Seven Years of Marriage Life Brought for Post-Mortem Examination at District Hospital

Suspicious Deaths of Women died within 7 Yrs of Marriage

Abstract

Background: Increasing number of unnatural deaths in women during early marriage life in our country during last few decades require urgent attention to prevent this type of occurrence. Objectives : To study the epidemiological , social and medico legal aspects of suspicious deaths in women died within seven years of their marriage life. Method: one year study of suspicious deaths in women died within seven years of marriage life brought for post- mortem examination at mortuary of Sir T. General Hospital & Govt. Medical College, Bhavnagar has been conducted with exclusion of women died in mass causalities, road traffic accidents & natural deaths. Results: In our study we observed that most of the victims were young (18-26 yrs) hindu females living in a joint family with their husband & in-laws & majority of them were illiterate or poorly educated & died in suspicious & unnatural circumstances. Interpretation & Conclusion: Most of the deaths were suicidal & accidental with few homicidal deaths due to burns was the most common cause of death followed by poisoning, hanging and drowning. Demand for the dowry & ill treatment by in-laws and/husband are common motives for suicidal cases followed by extra marital affairs, Mal adjustment of wife, poverty, infertility of female, drunkenness etc. Accidental deaths were due to burns because of wearing of loose synthetic sari in Gujarati women which catch the fire while cooking. Such type of cases must be investigated in deep and searching the reasons for this type of occurrence and preventive measure by social, political and legal way by Government as well as non government organisations must be sought.