Fatal Homicidal Violence Against Women and Girls in Faisalabad

Abstract

Objectives: To determine the pattern of fatal homicidal violence involving the women & girls as victims in Faisalabad regarding the variables of rate, age of victim, methods used for violence and seasonal variation. Study Design: Non interventional, Descriptive. Place and Duration of Study: The study was conducted at the Department of Forensic Medicine, Punjab Medical College Faisalabad over a period of three years (2007 to 2009). Methodology: 177 subjects were selected from victims brought for autopsy at the Postmortem unit of Department of Forensic Medicine, Punjab Medical College Faisalabad. Only those cases were included in the study where death of the woman or  girl was result of homicidal violence. Manner of death was decided on the basis of the police inquest, autopsy examination and an interview with the relatives of the victim. Victims having some inter sex state were excluded. The data was tabulated and analyzed. Results: Fatal homicidal violence against the women and girls is increasing day by day. Rate of homicide in Faisalabad increased from 2.0 in 2007 to 3.3 per 100,000 females in 2009. Majority of the victims were between the ages of 10-39 years.  The commonest weapon of offence used for causing death was firearm. The peak incidence was in the months of March, April and May.