Pattern of unnatural death in Nigeria: The aba experience

Abstract

In whatever form, time, and the way it comes, death is a tragedy. Unnatural death is a reflection of social and mental health status of a people in time and place. We studied the magnitude, manner, and modes of unnatural deaths in South-Eastern Nigeria. It was a retrospective study of deaths as revealed in autopsies performed by Pathologists at Abia State University Teaching Hospital (ABSUTH), Aba, Abia State, Nigeria, from January 1st, 2013, to December 31st, 2017. Study materials were retrieved from the Departmental records and archives. All the cases were grouped according to Age, Sex, and Mode of death. A total of 1264 cases were analyzed, but 256 were excluded, leaving 1008 cases for inclusion. Males were 727 and females were 281, giving a gender ratio of 2.6: 1. Results showed 756 (75%), 202 (20%) and 50 (5%) accidental, homicidal and suicidal deaths respectively; all of which were commoner among males and those in age group 21 – 40 years. Overall, accidental deaths were the commonest, while sharp force injuries were the commonest mode of homicidal deaths. We conclude that there is an increasing trend of unnatural death in the South-Eastern sub-region of Nigeria, and that calls for serious concern.