Cause-Specific Mortality Pattern Variation of Unnatural Deaths; A Comparative Demographic Study in the settings of South Punjab

Objective: To examine the demographic profile of unnatural deaths, in order to explore variation over time, in cause-specific mortality patterns of unnatural deaths, in South Punjab.Study Design: Cross sectional (descriptive) study. Settings: Department of Forensic Medicine & Toxicology, Sheikh Zayed Medical College, Rahim Yar Khan Pakistan. Duration: Six years, (1st January, 2015 to 31st December, 2017) and (1st January, 2021 to 31st December, 2023). Methods: Non-probability convenient sampling technique. Data from 2015 to 2017 taken as group A, while 2021 to 2023, as group B. Information collected from police papers, hospital record & autopsy reports entered on pre-designed performa. Statistical analysis is done by SPSS version 26. Results: Male victims were 79.71% in group A and, 72.57% in B as compared to 20.29% and 27.43% females respectively in group A and B. The age range of 21–30 year was common among victims in both groups. Accidents ratios decrease from 26.09% to 8.85% in recent times. The incidence of deaths due to sharp weapon risen to 12.39% as compared to 2.17% while the blunt weapon cases increased (17.70%) from (2.90%). Conclusion: Males are commonest victims of unnatural deaths across both groups but with a noticeable rise in ratio of females in B. Prevalent manner of death is homicidal. Common cause of death is firearm in group A, shifted to sharp edged weapons in B. A raise in sharp & blunt weapon cases needs coining preventive strategies.