Characteristics of the violent deaths that occurred in the southern territory of Ciego de Ávila in the five-year period 2013-2017

Abstract

Introduction: violent death is considered a global social phenomenon; its medical-legal causes can be homicidal, suicidal and accidental.

Objective: to characterize the violent deaths that occurred in southern Avilanian territory in the five-year period 2013-2017.

Methods: a descriptive observational cross-sectional study of the 533 violent deaths that occurred in the four municipalities of the southern territory of the Ciego de Ávila province was carried out. Theoretical methods were used: analytical-synthetic, historical-logical and hypothetical-deductive and, as empirical, the documentary review of the thanatology books.

Results: the male sex (79,45 %), the white color of the skin (77,30 %) and the age group of 45 to 64 years or more (40,20 %) predominated. At night time (28,90 %) and in the second semester (55,10 %), the greatest number of events occurred. The most frequent medical-legal cause was accidental (50,28 %) and the basic cause of death, trauma from a traffic accident (28,52 %). In men, hanging (24,02 %) predominated and in women, trauma from traffic accidents (5,63 %). Accidental death occurred mainly from trauma from a traffic accident (28,52 %), suicide by hanging (26,27 %), and homicide by stab wound (12,38 %).

Conclusions: violent death increased in 2017 in the southern territory of Ciego de Ávila province. The most frequent medical-legal cause was accidental, and its predominant basic cause of death was trauma from a traffic accident.