Autopsy study of traumatic/violent deaths in Rivers State of Nigeria

Abstract

Background: As Nigerians grapple with heavy burden of diseases  communicable and non-communicable, violent deaths have also become a public health issue in Nigeria. It accounts for an alarming number of residents sent to their graves, especially the young and productive ones.

Aims: To evaluate the burden of  violent deaths in Rivers state, examine their manners, causes and demographic distribution. Also to proffer ways of reducing such deaths.

Methods: Archived autopsy reports of victims of violent deaths were reviewed for age, gender, circumstances, causes and mechanisms of death between 1998 and 2008. The autopsies were medicolegal cases carried out in different government and privately owned mortuaries located in Rivers state in  accordance with the coroner laws of Rivers state.

Results: Violent deaths constituted 84.2% of 2096 medicolegal autopsies conducted by the authors within the eleven-year period. Males(85.9%) predominated over females. The average and peak ages were 35 years and 21-30 years respectively. Twenty percent of the victims were children and adolescents aged between 0 and 20 years. Homicides and accidents constituted 56.9% and 42.3% respectively while suicides constituted 0.8%. Homicidal deaths were majorly by firearms while accidental deaths were mainly road traffic-related. Suicides were all by hanging.

Conclusions: Violent deaths with its high mortality rate in Rivers state constitute a public health menace. Tackling illegal possession of firearms and combating crime as well as upgrading and maintaining safety standards in the transport sector will curb the alarming rate of violent deaths in Rivers State of Nigeria.   

Keywords: Trauma, Violent, Accidents, Homicides, Deaths, Nigeria