Google Scholar

##plugins.themes.academic_pro.article.sidebar##

Published
Jul 10, 2015
Download
PDF
Statistic
Read Counter : 60 Download : 45

Downloads

Download data is not yet available.

##plugins.themes.academic_pro.article.main##

Abstract

Introduction: High mortality in young married women from burns is an alarming problem in our country. Materials and Methods: All medico-legal autopsies of burn cases of married women which were performed between January 2014 and June 2015 were analyzed with respect to age, religion, community and region distribution, years of marriage, educational status, inflammable substance used, body surface area which was involved, the cause of death and manner of death.

Results: The maximum number of the victims (37.96%) belonged to the age group of 21 to 30 years. Majority of the victims were Hindus (70.37%).Most of them were non-tribal women (81.94%). 73.14% hailed from rural areas. Most of the victims (57.40%) were within 7 years of marriage. A majority of the victims were illiterate (45.37%). Kerosene oil was used in majority of cases (99.53%). Most of the incident took place in kitchen (83.33%). In 75.46 % cases, more than 80% of the body surface area was involved.  Shock was the cause of majority of deaths (65.74%), followed by Septicaemia (28.7%). The manner of death in 81.94% cases was suicidal followed by accidental (16.2%) and homicidal (1.85%).

Discussion: Present study is in accordance with other studies where age group of 21-30 years are mostly affected. Hindus are the majority and kerosene oil burns are common. 

Conclusion: Education regarding fire safety and awareness discouraging dowry demands should be instilled amongst the common mass. Dedicated burn units should be made functioning with detection and treatment of infections to reduce mortality.

Keywords:  burn death, medico-legal autopsy, kerosene oil, shock. 

##plugins.themes.academic_pro.article.details##

Author Biographies

Dr. Anamika Nath, Dr. Prasenjit Das, Agartala Government Medical College, Tripura

Post Graduate Trainee, Department of Forensic Medicine and Toxicology

Dr. Pradipta Narayan Chakraborty, Agartala Government Medical College, Tripura

Tutor, Department of Forensic Medicine and Toxicology
How to Cite
Dr. Prasenjit Das, D. A. N., & Chakraborty, D. P. N. (2015). Burnt Wives of Agartala: A Retrospective Study From Medico Legal Autopsies of A Tertiary Hospital of Tripura, Northeast India. International Journal of Emerging Trends in Science and Technology, 2(07). Retrieved from https://igmpublication.org/ijetst.in/index.php/ijetst/article/view/794

References

1. Reddy K. S. N. ‘Thermal Deaths’, The Essentials of Forensic Medicine and Toxicology, 2009, 29th ed, Devi K. Suguna, Hyderabad, p283
2. Ambade VN, Godbole HV, Kukde HG. Suicidal and homicidal deaths: a comparative and circumstantial approach. J Forensic Leg Med 2007;14(5):253-60.
3. Camps Francis E., Robinson Ann E., Lucas Bernard G.B. ‘Heat, cold and Electricity’, Gradwohl’s Legal Medicine, 1976, 3rd ed., John Wright & Sons Ltd, Bristol .
4. Nandy Apurba. ‛Thermal injuries’, Principles of Forensic Medicine, 2002, 2nd Ed, New Central Book Agency (p) Ltd.p263
5. Pekka S, Knight B. Bernard Knight’s Forensic Pathology, 2004, 3rd Ed, Oxford University Press Inc, New York, p322.
6. Batra. A. K. Burn Mortality; Recent Trends and Sociocultural determinants in rural India. Burns. 2003; (29): 270-275.
7. Harish D, Kumar A. Burns septicemia – the leading cause of burn mortality. J Punjab Acad For Med Toxicol 2008;8(2):10-16. – 91). J For Med Toxicol 1993;10(1):215.
8. Mazumdar A, Patowary A. A study of pattern of burn injury cases. J Indian Acad Forensic Med 2013,35(1):44-46.
9. Memchoubi P, Nabachandra H. A study on the burn deaths in Imphal, J Indian Acad Forensic Med, 2007; 29(4):131-4.
10. Kumar V, Mohanty MK, Kant S. Fatal burns in the Manipal area: A 10 year study. Journal of Forensic and Legal Medicine, 2007; 14(1): 3-6.
11. Das. K.C. “A study of burn cases in medico-legal autopsy” MD thesis, 1998; Gauhati University, Guwahati, Assam, India.
12. Buchade D, Kukde H, Dere R, Savardekar R. Pattern of Burn Cases Brought to Morgue, Sion Hospital Mumbai, A Two Year Study, Indian Academy Of Forensic Medicine, 2011 Dec, 33(4), 309-310.
13. Rao N, Kumar G. Study of fatal female burns in Manipal. J For Med Toxicol 1997;9(4):57-9.
14. Chakraborty S, Bisoi S, Chattopadhyay D, Mishra R, Bhattacharya N, Biswas B. A study on demographic and clinical profile of burn patients in an linical profile of burn patients in an Apex Institute of West Bengal. Indian J Public Health 2010;54:27-9.
15. Kumar V, Tripathi CB. Fatal accidental burns in married women. Legal Medicine 2003; 5: 139–145.
16. Dasgupta SM, Tripathi CB. Burnt wife syndrome. Annals Acad Med 1984; 13(1): 37-42.
17. Sharma BR, Harish D, Sharma A, Sharma S, Singh S. Accidental burns in kitchen : are they really accidental? J Indian Acad Forensic Med 2006;28(1):14-17.
18. Kusa Kumar Shaha Sachindananda Mohanty.Alleged Dowry Death: A study of homicidal burns.Med sci. Law. 2006; vol.46 , No.2:105-109.
19. Nath, D. “A statistical study of pattern of ante mortem burn injuries” MD thesis, 2007; Gauhati University, Guwahati, Assam, India.
20. Richa Gupta, Vikas Kumar, S.K.Tripathi .Profile of the Fatal Burn Deaths from the Varanasi Region, India Journal of Clinical and Diagnostic Research. 2012 May (Suppl-2), Vol-6(4): 608-611608.