PATTERN OF HOMICIDAL DEATHS IN LAGOS, NIGERIA AS SEEN AT THE LAGOS STATE UNIVERSITY TEACHING HOSPITAL, IKEJA, LAGOS

Abstract

Homicide is the termination of the life of one person by another, either lawfully or unlawfully. This
is a Five-year retrospective study of all homicidal deaths in which autopsies were performed at the
Department of Pathology and Forensic Medicine, Lagos State University Teaching Hospital (LASUTH), Ikeja, Lagos between 1st January,2007 and 31st December,2011. The study was
designed to analyse the pattern of homicidal deaths among the autopsies performed in LASUTH.
In addition, the study also aimed at ascertaining the causes of death, the pattern of injuries and
the gender and age prevalence of homicidal deaths.
Materials were derived from autopsy registers, computer records, post-mortem reports, coroners’
papers and hospital records. Analysis of data obtained was done by the use of statistical package
for social science (SPSS) version 17.
In this study, homicides accounted for 774(11.2%) of the 6,884 medico-legal autopsies performed
during the study period. Of the 774 victims of homicide, 713 were males and 61 were females
giving a ratio of 12:1. The commonest age group affected was the 20-29years (32.0%) while the
age group of 0-9years is the least affected. Overall, most of the victims are within the 20 and 49
years of age. The head and neck region was found to be the most common site of injury followed
by the thorax. In 61.4% of the cases, the victims had firearms injuries while sharp force injuries
accounted for 23.9% of cases. Haemorrhage secondary to damage to major blood vessels and
organs was the most common cause of death. In 80.5% of cases, the death was immediate. Half
(50.5%) of cases were reportedly due to armed robbery attacks.
In conclusion, the study has shown that a significant proportion of the victims are within the
economically productive age group. Consequently the society needs to urgently address the
security issue because of the economic implication.
Key words: Homicide, Autopsies, Firearms, Sharp force, LASUTH.

PATTERN OF HOMICIDAL DEATHS IN LAGOS, NIGERIA AS SEEN AT THE LAGOS STATE UNIVERSITY TEACHING HOSPITAL, IKEJA, LAGOS