Prevalence and Characteristics of Nonfatal Strangulation in Medical Forensic Examination: A Retrospective Chart Review, 2017–2023
This study examined prevalence and characteristics of nonfatal strangulation (NFS) in medical forensic examinations from 2017 to 2023. A retrospective chart review of 1,396 records revealed 243 NFS cases (17.4%), prevalence increasing from 13.3% in 2017 to 22.2% in 2023. Adult NFS comprised 15.2% of cases, children 2.2%. Analysis of the NFS group revealed partner/spouse perpetrators were most common overall. Children were most commonly victimized by friends/acquaintances. NFS disproportionately affected females (94.2% of all NFS cases). Among children experiencing NFS, minority groups were overrepresented, accounting for 74.2% of pediatric NFS cases. The COVID-19 period showed distinct changes in age-related patterns.
Authors
- Patricia Blair (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0001-5281-1612)
- Chelsea Knutson (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0002-8229-0157)
- Robert A. Bartsch (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0001-8055-1512)
- Patricia Carter (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0003-2582-667X)
- Nancy R. Downing (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0002-4975-3789)
- Stephanie E Meyers
Institutions
- University of North Texas (US)
- University of North Texas Health Science Center (US)
- Baylor Scott & White Health (US)
- The University of Texas Medical Branch at Galveston (US)
Publication Details
- Journal
- Violence Against Women
- Published
- 2025-12-04
- DOI
- https://doi.org/10.1177/10778012251397979
- Primary Topic
- Restraint-Related Deaths
- Type
- article
- Field-Weighted Citation Impact
- 0.00