Epidemiology of Homicide in Community-Dwelling Older Adults: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis

On tackling abuse of older people: The forensic challenges in fatal cases investigation

The World Health Organization recently presented the priorities for tackling abuse of older people in a coordinated and strategic way. However, data on the forensic scenario is still lacking. In this context, the aim of the present work was to provide a comprehensive literature review of this inherently complex phenomenon in the post-mortem setting, in order to better characterize it from a forensic point of view. A comprehensive literature search was performed in three electronic databases following the PRISMA guidelines. Sociodemographic and medical data of victims and perpetrators, post-mortem data, types of abuse and risk factors were extracted from non-aggregated data. Forty-eight papers dealing with abuse in the post-mortem setting were included, with a predominance of case reports and case series. The review showed that neglect was the most common type of abuse and victims are predominantly older women who are abused in a domestic setting by trusted family member. To generate more and better data, expanded research in the forensic field requires standardized methods and the raise of professional awareness about abuse of older people.

A population-based cross-sectional study examining homicides among community-dwelling older adults in Victoria, Australia: A study protocol

BACKGROUND

There is a need for both descriptive and analytical evidence on the factors associated with older adult homicide. The current landscape is insufficient because most published research is confined to the United States, and contains insufficient data about the homicide context. This study protocol describes the proposed method for examining the characteristics and factors associated with older adult homicide in the Australian state of Victoria, using data generated for the criminal and coronial investigation into these deaths stored in the Victorian Homicide Register (VHR). Outcomes will support practitioners, policy makers and other key stakeholders to strengthen prevention strategies to reduce the risk of future homicides among older Victorians.

METHODS

This study will comprise a single-jurisdiction population-based cross-sectional design to analyse consecutive cases of homicide among community-dwelling older adults in Victoria, Australia for the period 2001 to 2015. All homicides of adults aged 18 years and older, and where the Coroner's investigation is completed at data extraction will be included. Variables will be selected in accordance with elements of the social-ecological model (i.e., individual, interpersonal, incident, and community). This will include: socio-demographic characteristics; presence of mental or physical illness; deceased-offender relationship; nature of any abuse between the deceased and offender; incident location and weapon used; the presence of alcohol or drugs; and criminal justice outcomes. Homicide rates per 100,000 population will be calculated for older adults (aged 65 years and older) and younger adults (aged 18-64 years), and compared as rate ratios using Poisson regression. Descriptive statistics and cross-tabulation will be generated for factors associated with homicide for older compared to younger adults. Homicide typologies based on deceased-offender relationship and motive will be explored within group and family homicides will be compared between older and younger adults.

The epidemiology of homicide among older adults: retrospective analysis using data from the Victorian Homicide Register

Older adult homicide is unique and under-researched, requiring immediate attention due to the rapidly ageing population. The current study aims to contribute to the description of homicide at the individual, interpersonal, incident and community levels. This research comprised a whole of state jurisdiction population-based retrospective analysis of homicide deaths of older adults aged 65 years and older reported to the Coroner between 2001 and 2015. Descriptive statistical analyses were conducted to compare older adult homicides by sex and the deceased-offender relationship. There were 59 homicide incidents involving 23 female and 36 male deceased (median age=72 years) and 16 female and 41 male offenders (median age=41 years). Individual factors included the following: Deceased frequently had a recorded physical illness (66%), and over one-third were born overseas (37%) or had recent contact with general practitioners and human services (36%). Offenders frequently had a history of illicit drug or alcohol use (63%), diagnosed mental illness (63%) and historical exposure to violence (61%). Interpersonal factors included the following: The deceased-offender relationship tended to be intimate or familial (63%). Incidents factors included the following: incident predominantly occurred in the victim's home (73%), involving the use of a sharp object (36%), bodily force (31%) or blunt force (20%). The older adult homicide is characterised by poor health in the victim, mental illness, substance abuse or a history of conflict in the either the victim or the offender, familial deceased-offender relationship and the home as the incident location. The results identify future prevention opportunities in clinical and human services settings.

Trend Analysis of Homicide Mortality and Years of Life Lost in the South of Iran, 2004-2019

BACKGROUND

This study was conducted to determine the mortality rate and years of life lost (YLL) due to homicide in Fars province.

STUDY DESIGN

This was a cross-sectional study.

METHODS

All data related to deaths due to homicide in Fars province were obtained from the Populationbased Electronic Death Registration System. Crude and age-standardized mortality rate, YLL, and YLL rate data were calculated and joinpoint regression was used to examine the trend.

RESULTS

During 2004-2019, 2148 deaths due to homicide occurred in Fars province, and (1782 cases (83.0%) were men. The crude mortality rate in men decreased by 44.0% from 2004 to 2019, but a stable trend was observed in women. The total YLL due to homicide during these 16 years was 43230 (1.37 per 1000 people) in men and 8931 (0.29 per 1000 people) in women. According to the joinpoint regression analysis, the 16-year trend of the YLL rate due to premature mortality in men was decreasing, and the annual percent change (APC) was -4.00% (95% confidence interval [CI]: -6.60 to -1.20, P=0.008). However, women demonstrated stable trends in this respect, and APC was -0.50% (95% CI: -3.10 to 2.20, P=0.704).

CONCLUSION

The crude and standardized mortality rates and the number of YLL due to homicide in the study period had a significant decreasing trend in men but a stable trend in women. To control this issue, officials and policymakers should identify the areas of homicide and control its risk factors such as economic and social issues, drug addiction, and the state of violence.

Female Homicide in Italy in 2021: Different Criminological and Psychopathological Perspectives on the Phenomenon

The intentional homicide of female victims, which is most commonly perpetrated by intimate partners or family members, has been recognized in recent years as a matter of grave public concern that needs to be addressed from the cultural and judicial perspectives. To allow an in-depth criminological and psychopathological evaluation of female homicide in Italy in 2021 to be conducted, the authors performed a newspaper report analysis of the phenomenon. All female homicides that occurred in Italy in 2021 (n = 119) were included in the study. The analysis confirmed the low rate of female homicides in Italy when compared with other countries and also showed the phenomenon to be more complex than usually described. The highest rate of homicides was observed in elderly females when compared with other age groups, implying different criminological considerations and suggesting that gender-based violence may only explain some of the identified cases. The high incidence of suicide or attempted suicide among offenders, together with the high incidence of reported mental disorders in that population, suggests that a psychopathological perspective on the phenomenon of female homicide could help with the development and implementation of preventive strategies that focus on managing mental health at a territorial level and intervening in difficult domestic situations.