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Grayaa M, Kort I, Naceur Y, Gharbaoui M, Kouada R, Bekir O, Allouche M. Child homicide in northern Tunisia: a retrospective study of forensic autopsy cases. EGYPTIAN JOURNAL OF FORENSIC SCIENCES 2021. [DOI: 10.1186/s41935-021-00247-1] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/10/2022] Open
Abstract
Abstract
Background
As far as we know, no previous research has investigated child homicide in Tunisia. In this context, our study was carried out to analyze the epidemiological and medico-legal characteristics of child homicide occurring in northern Tunisia over a 17-year period.
Results
Eighty-seven cases were collected, with a male-to-female ratio of 2.4. The mean age of the victims was 12.6 years for both sexes. We found that 56.3% of the cases were aged between 15 and 18 years. The majority of deaths under 15 years of age occurred at home as a result of intrafamilial homicide. Victims aged more than 15 years were more likely to be assaulted outside the home by a non-family member.
The most frequent method of homicide was sharp force (39%) affecting mostly the heart and the lung, followed by blunt trauma (25%), which affected mainly the head. Sexual assault was diagnosed at autopsy in six victims (6.9%).
Conclusions
The study offers available data concerning the patterns of child homicide in northern Tunisia and may help to implement preventive measures against this kind of crime.
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Hwa HL, Pan CH, Shu GM, Chang CH, Lee TT, Lee JCI. Child homicide victims in forensic autopsy in Taiwan: A 10-year retrospective study. Forensic Sci Int 2015; 257:413-419. [PMID: 26562789 DOI: 10.1016/j.forsciint.2015.10.020] [Citation(s) in RCA: 14] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/25/2015] [Revised: 08/06/2015] [Accepted: 10/19/2015] [Indexed: 11/28/2022]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Child homicides are critical medico-legal issues worldwide. Data on the characteristics of these cases in Asia are limited. This study aimed to describe the characteristics of child homicides in Taiwan. METHODS A retrospective analysis of forensic autopsy records of child homicide victims (aged 0-17 years) in Taiwan, during a 10-year period between 2001 and 2010, was carried out. The age, sex, relationship with the perpetrator(s), injury patterns of the victims, and causes of death were analyzed. RESULTS In all, 193 child homicide autopsies were identified. There were 38 (19.7%), 82 (42.5%), 25 (13.0%), and 48 (24.9%) homicide victims aged under 1, 1-5, 6-12, and 13-17 years, respectively. One-hundred boys (mean age: 8.4±7.0) and 93 girls (mean age: 3.7±4.3) were included. A female predominance was noted among the victims aged 0-5. Blunt force (53.4%) was the most frequent method of injury, followed by suffocation/strangulation (20.2%) and sharp force (13.0%). Bruise (64.8%) and brain injury (45.1%) were the most common types of injuries. The cranium (62.2%) and face (60.6%) were the most frequently injured body regions. The distribution of fatal injuries varied among victims in different age groups. Neurogenic shock, asphyxia, and hemorrhagic shocks were most common in victims aged 0-5, 6-12, and 13-17, respectively. The most frequent causes of death included blunt force head injury (40.4%), suffocation/strangulation (20.2%), and sharp force lung trauma (7.3%). The type of offenders, injury methods, types of injuries, distribution of injuries, mechanism of death, and causes of death were significantly different among victims of different age groups. Eighteen (9.33%) victims displayed no external evidence of trauma. CONCLUSIONS The patterns of injuries, mechanism of death, and causes of death were different among victims of different age groups. A female predominance was noted among the victims aged 0-5. Complete forensic autopsy is necessary to identify child homicide. This report will help forensic examiners and forensic pathologists recognize the signs of child homicide and serve as a working basis for these professionals.
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Affiliation(s)
- Hsiao-Lin Hwa
- Department and Graduate Institute of Forensic Medicine, College of Medicine, National Taiwan University, No. 1, Sec. 1, Jen Ai Rd., Taipei, Taiwan 100, ROC; National Taiwan University, Children and Family Research Center, Leader of Division, No. 1, Sec. 4, Roosevelt Rd., Taipei, Taiwan 106, ROC
| | - Chih-Hsin Pan
- Institute of Forensic Medicine, Ministry of Justice, No. 123, Min'an St., Zhonghe Dist., New Taipei City, Taiwan 235, ROC
| | - Guang-Ming Shu
- Department and Graduate Institute of Forensic Medicine, College of Medicine, National Taiwan University, No. 1, Sec. 1, Jen Ai Rd., Taipei, Taiwan 100, ROC
| | - Chin-Hao Chang
- Department of Medical Research, National Taiwan University Hospital, No. 7, Zhongshan S. Rd., Zhongzheng Dist., Taipei, Taiwan 100, ROC
| | - Tsui-Ting Lee
- Institute of Forensic Medicine, Ministry of Justice, No. 123, Min'an St., Zhonghe Dist., New Taipei City, Taiwan 235, ROC
| | - James Chun-I Lee
- Department and Graduate Institute of Forensic Medicine, College of Medicine, National Taiwan University, No. 1, Sec. 1, Jen Ai Rd., Taipei, Taiwan 100, ROC.
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