Author/Authors :
Tatar, G Celal Bayar University - Faculty of Medicine - Department of Forensic Medicine, Turkey , Ulucay, T Celal Bayar University - Faculty of Medicine - Department of Forensic Medicine, Turkey , Asirdizer, M Celal Bayar University - Faculty of Medicine - Department of Forensic Medicine, Turkey , Yavuz, M S Celal Bayar University - Faculty of Medicine - Department of Forensic Medicine, Turkey , Zeyfeoglu, Y Celal Bayar University - Faculty of Medicine - Department of Forensic Medicine, Turkey , Dalgic, M Institute of Forensic Medicine - Izmir Group Presidency, Turkey , Koker, M Institute of Forensic Medicine - Izmir Group Presidency, Turkey
Abstract :
Aim: In this study, we aimed to analyze the medico-legal deaths of teenagers aged 10-19 years which occurred in Izmir (Turkey) and the causes of death.Materials and Methods: In this study, we retrospectively reviewed autopsy reports for 232 medico-legal deaths of the ages of teenages aged 10-19 years over three years (from January 01, 2010 to December 31, 2012) logged by the Izmir Morgue Department of the Council of Forensic Medicine (Turkey). The cases were evaluated according to age, sex, the manner of death, the cause of death and findings of toxicological analysis. Data was classified and statistically analyzed.Results: 75.4% of cases were males. The vast majority of deaths were related to external causes (91.8%), especially road traffic accidents and accidents at home, followed by suicides (24.6%) and homicides (13.4%). The majority of suicides were committed by hanging (59.6%) and most of the homicides by firearms (51.6%). Natural death accounted for only 7.3% of all deaths and 41.2% of them were related to acute myocardial infarction.Conclusion: The vast majority of deaths were found to be related to external causes, in particular unintentional causes. Considering the role of traffic accidents and home accidents among unintentional deaths, efforts to prevent traffic accidents and accidents at home could significantly reduce mortality in this age group. Additionally, we think that the expansion of free youth counseling centers to provide psychological support for adolescents and teenagers will reduce mortality in this age group.
NaturalLanguageKeyword :
adolescents , teenagers , suicide , homicide , accidents
