DEATH IN THE HOME: DOMESTIC VIOLENCE AGAINST WOMEN IN KHYBER PAKHTUNKHWA

Authors

  • Mian Mujahid Shah
  • Naveed Alam
  • Qudsia Hassan
  • Sahibdad Khan
  • Iftikhar Qayum
  • Sher Bahadur
  • Zahid Hussain Khalil

Abstract

Background: Domestic or Interpersonal Violence (IPV) remains a major global problem often
resulting in morbidity and mortality. The present study was conducted to determine the scope of
deaths related to domestic violence in the Khyber Pakhunkhwa province, Pakistan. Methods: Data
were collected on all reported female fatalities due to domestic violence for the years 2009-2011
from the records of the department of Forensic Medicine, Khyber Medical College Peshawar for
analysis. Results: A total of 305 deaths were reported, showing an increasing trend of 115 deaths
for 2009-10 and 190 deaths for 2010-2011. The majority, 182 (59.7%) belonged to the rural areas
and 123 (40.3%) to urban areas of the province. Victims were generally of the younger age groups
(17% below age 16 and 42.3% between 17-32 years). Homicide was the manner of death in 293
(96.1%) while the most common causative agent was firearm injury (235, 77.1%). Head and neck
injuries were most common (52.6%) followed by the chest and abdomen (31.6%) while multiple
sites and extremities accounted for 15.8% of injuries. Conclusion: Young and adult females of
KPK province of Pakistan are susceptible to homicidal deaths due to domestic violence,
perpetrated through firearm injuries to the head and neck regions.
Keywords: Domestic violence, Interpersonal violence, Homicide, Firearm injury, Young females

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Published

2012-03-01

How to Cite

Shah, M. M., Alam, N., Hassan, Q., Khan, S., Qayum, I., Bahadur, S., & Khalil, Z. H. (2012). DEATH IN THE HOME: DOMESTIC VIOLENCE AGAINST WOMEN IN KHYBER PAKHTUNKHWA. Journal of Ayub Medical College Abbottabad, 24(1), 48–51. Retrieved from https://demo.ayubmed.edu.pk/jamc/index.php/jamc/article/view/2150

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