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Pattern of children death in Sfax, Tunisia: A 14-year autopsy study
Wiem Ben Amar1, Mariem Grayaa1, Fatma Daoud1
1Faculty of Medicine, University of Sfax, Sfax, 3027, Department of Forensic Medicine, Habib Bourguiba University Hospital, Sfax, 3027, Tunisia.
Insights
Accidents, primarily road traffic incidents and drowning, are the leading causes of child mortality in Tunisia. This study highlights the need for targeted preventive measures to reduce these preventable deaths.
Area of Science:
- Forensic Medicine
- Public Health
- Pediatric Mortality
Background:
- Child mortality is a key public health indicator.
- Understanding causes of death is crucial for prevention.
Purpose of the Study:
- Analyze epidemiological, social, and forensic factors of child deaths in Tunisia.
- Identify leading causes of child mortality over 14 years.
Main Methods:
- Transversal descriptive study.
- 14-year period (2008-2021).
- Forensic autopsies of children.
Main Results:
- 436 cases examined; male predominance.
- Accidents (70%) were the leading cause, followed by natural deaths (16%).
- Road traffic accidents (48%) and drowning (20%) dominated accident deaths; hanging (65%) was the main suicide method.
Conclusions:
- Provides crucial data on child mortality patterns in Tunisia.
- Informs the development of effective preventive strategies.
Introduction And Aim:
Child mortality is a critical indicator of public health. Identifying the causes and circumstances of death among children is the first step in preventing this tragedy. The purpose of this study was to investigate and analyse the epidemiological, social, and forensic characteristics of children deaths in Tunisia over a 14-year period and identify the leading causes of death.
Methods:
We conducted a transversal descriptive study in the Department of Forensic Medicine at Habib Bourguiba University Hospital of Sfax over 14 years (January 1 st, 2008-December 31st, 2021) including all forensic autopsies carried out on children.
Results:
A total of 436 cases were examined with a male predominance (Sex ratio:1.5) and a mean age of 8 ± 6 years. Accidents were the most prevalent manner of death (70%) followed by natural deaths (16%), suicides (7%) and homicides (2%). A significant association between sex, age group and the manner of death (natural/violent deaths) was observed (p<0.001). The majority of accidents were due to road traffic accidents (48%), followed by drowning (20%). For suicidal deaths, hanging was the most common method (65%) followed by self-immolation (16%) and, finally, ingesting pesticides (13%). The most frequent method of homicide was sharp force.
Conclusion:
This study provides valuable data regarding child mortality patterns in Tunisia, which can help to implement adequate preventive measures.
