Indian Journal of Forensic Medicine & Toxicology

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Epidemiology of Homicide by Sharp Force in Tehran, Iran between 2010 and 2011


Affiliations
1 Legal Medicine Organization of Iran, Tehran, Iran, Islamic Republic of
2 Forensic Medicine Department, School of Medicine, Tehran University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran, Islamic Republic of
3 Department, School of Medicine, Tehran University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran, Islamic Republic of
4 Forensic Medicine Department, School of Medicine, Tehran University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran, Islamic Republic of
     

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Background: Stabbing is the most common method of homicide especially in countries such as Iran. This study was carried out to determine epidemiology of murders caused by sharp force injury in the city of Tehran.

Method: This study was a prospective cross-sectional study. All the victims of homicides caused by sharp force injury between July 2010 and June 2011 in the city of Tehran were included in this study. Questionnaire was used to collect the obtained data through census. In data analysis, the frequency and standard deviation (SD) were calculated and t-test and Chisquare tests were used for data analysis.

Results: 166 murders were caused by sharp force. The mean age of victims was 33.06±14.11 years old. The mean of the number of wounds on the victim's body was 6.6 ± 2.9. Motivation for murder was feud in 65 cases (39.6%) and 33 cases (20.1%) had family issues. Defense wounds were seen in 108 cases (65.9%). 94 cases (65.6%) had 2-9 wounds on their body. The cause of death in 102 cases (61.4%) was injury of a critical organ. There was a significant relationship between sex and neck lesions (p=0.001). Mean and SD of the number of wounds was higher in females than males (p= 0.009).

Conclusion: Increased use of knives and other sharp tools in homicides is considered a threat for public health and more legal limitations for use of these devices and their transport seems necessary.


Keywords

Homicide, Epidemiology, Sharp Force Injury, Tehran, Defense Wound
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  • Epidemiology of Homicide by Sharp Force in Tehran, Iran between 2010 and 2011

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Authors

J. Gharehdaghi
Legal Medicine Organization of Iran, Tehran, Iran, Islamic Republic of
M. Ghorbani
Forensic Medicine Department, School of Medicine, Tehran University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran, Islamic Republic of
M. Akhlaghi
Forensic Medicine Department, School of Medicine, Tehran University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran, Islamic Republic of
V. Yousefinejad
Department, School of Medicine, Tehran University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran, Islamic Republic of
M. Paeezi
Forensic Medicine Department, School of Medicine, Tehran University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran, Islamic Republic of

Abstract


Background: Stabbing is the most common method of homicide especially in countries such as Iran. This study was carried out to determine epidemiology of murders caused by sharp force injury in the city of Tehran.

Method: This study was a prospective cross-sectional study. All the victims of homicides caused by sharp force injury between July 2010 and June 2011 in the city of Tehran were included in this study. Questionnaire was used to collect the obtained data through census. In data analysis, the frequency and standard deviation (SD) were calculated and t-test and Chisquare tests were used for data analysis.

Results: 166 murders were caused by sharp force. The mean age of victims was 33.06±14.11 years old. The mean of the number of wounds on the victim's body was 6.6 ± 2.9. Motivation for murder was feud in 65 cases (39.6%) and 33 cases (20.1%) had family issues. Defense wounds were seen in 108 cases (65.9%). 94 cases (65.6%) had 2-9 wounds on their body. The cause of death in 102 cases (61.4%) was injury of a critical organ. There was a significant relationship between sex and neck lesions (p=0.001). Mean and SD of the number of wounds was higher in females than males (p= 0.009).

Conclusion: Increased use of knives and other sharp tools in homicides is considered a threat for public health and more legal limitations for use of these devices and their transport seems necessary.


Keywords


Homicide, Epidemiology, Sharp Force Injury, Tehran, Defense Wound

References