Profile of Dowry Death Cases Reported for Autopsy in Thoothukudi Medical College - A Retrospective Study

Abstract

Violence against women inside the family is a worldwide phenomenon. Violence against women traverses
every geographical area, economic layers, education level, age, and employment status. It is seen that in spite
of its high education status and all around acclaimed social method of advancement, India is at top position
in Dowry Death. United Nation General Assembly in 1993 embraced the Declaration on the Elimination of
Violence against Women. All the medicolegal cases brought to an autopsy that is registered under section
304 B IPC are included in this study. Inclusion criteria: Death of married women within 7 years of marriage.
A total of 80 cases were analyzed retrospectively. 71(88.75%) cases belong to Hindu religion. 45(56.25%)
cases are from urban regions, 40(50%) cases completed high school education, 44 (55%) of the deaths
occurred in 2-4 years of marriage, 63(78.75%) cases belong to arranged marriage, 32(40%) cases belonged
to nuclear family, 65 (75%)cases belong to the age group 18 to 25 years, 3(3.75%) cases were homicide,
Hanging is the most common form of death in this study 44(55%) cases. The government of India has
attempted to battle the developing rate of dowry death by instituting different laws to keep such deaths from
happening and to punish those responsible when they do happen. Notwithstanding lawful forward leaps,
stunning news on dowry deaths kept on appearing in Indian papers