Autopsied foreign national deaths in Edirne, Türkiye

Area of Science:

• Forensic pathology
• Public health
• Migration studies

Background:

• Edirne, Türkiye, serves as a significant transit point for foreign nationals due to its geographical location.
• Understanding the patterns of mortality among foreign nationals is crucial for public health and forensic investigations.

Purpose of the Study:

• To analyze the demographic, epidemiological, and forensic characteristics of foreign nationals undergoing autopsy in Edirne between 2020 and 2024.
• To identify the primary causes and circumstances of death among this population.

Main Methods:

• Retrospective analysis of 88 autopsy cases of foreign nationals from January 2020 to December 2024.
• Data collected included age, sex, reason for presence, nationality, location, and cause of death.
• Descriptive statistical analyses were performed.

Main Results:

• The majority (92%) of foreign national cases were male, with a mean age of 34.3 years, predominantly in the 21-30 age group.
• Key reasons for presence included being a refugee (61.4%), worker (14.8%), or truck driver (13.6%).
• Leading causes of death were drowning (34.1%), traffic accidents (13.6%), and myocardial infarction (10.2%), with deaths often occurring in rivers, rural areas, or highways.

Conclusions:

• Mortality among foreign nationals in Edirne is linked to migration, international transport, and tourism.
• Refugees face risks from preventable causes during their journeys.
• Recommendations include enhancing border safety, occupational safety, and health screenings for drivers to reduce preventable deaths.