A RETROSPECTIVE STUDY OF PATTERN OF MEDICOLEGAL AUTOPSIES CONDUCTED AT KADAPA, ANDHRA PRADESH

Venkatesulu B; Sudhakar S; Abdul Khalid M; ANUDEEP KUMAR K; SRINIVASA NAIK M

doi:10.22159/ajpcr.2023.v16i8.48962

Authors

Venkatesulu B Department of Forensic Medicine, Government Medical College, Kadapa, Andhra Pradesh, India.
Sudhakar S Department of Forensic Medicine, Government Medical College, Kadapa, Andhra Pradesh, India.
Abdul Khalid M Department of Forensic Medicine, Government Medical College, Kadapa, Andhra Pradesh, India. https://orcid.org/0000-0001-5949-8809
ANUDEEP KUMAR K Department of Forensic Medicine, Government Medical College, Kadapa, Andhra Pradesh, India.
SRINIVASA NAIK M Department of Forensic Medicine, Government Medical College, Kadapa, Andhra Pradesh, India.

DOI:

https://doi.org/10.22159/ajpcr.2023.v16i8.48962

Keywords:

Mortality pattern, Autopsy, Age, Sex, Cause of death, Road traffic accidents, Burns

Abstract

Objective: Death of an individual is a serious and grave loss to the family and community at large in whatever form it occurs whether natural or unnatural. Analysis of unnatural deaths helps in understanding the causes, manner, and modes of deaths thereby formulating and implementing a proper policy to reduce them.

Methods: This is a retrospective study of autopsies conducted over 3 years (2020–2022) in the mortuary of Government Medical College, Kadapa. During this period, 1857 autopsies were performed. All the necessary data were collected from the police requisitions, inquest reports, hospital case sheets, medicolegal register, and postmortem reports in a performed pro forma.

Results: Out of the 1857 cases, high proportion was in the age group of 21–30 years (40.26%), followed by 31–40 years (18.68%). Ratio of male to female was 2.57:1. Majority belonged to Hindu community (67.69%) and most of the subjects hailed from the rural areas (63.14%). Majority were married (70.86%). The most common cause of death was road traffic accidents (45.07%), followed by poisoning (15.67%). The manner of deaths was accidental deaths in most cases (57.78%) followed by suicidal deaths (36.02%).

Conclusion: The present study reveals that most cases were in 21–30 years age group. The proportion of males outnumbered females and the subjects were mostly married and were from rural areas. Road traffic accidents were common cause of death in males and burns were the common cause of death in females.

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