Medico Legal Autopsies In Aba, Nigeria

Abstract

To determine the pattern of medico legal autopsies performed between January 2001 to December 2005 so as to highlight any differences or similarities to the observation of workers in other parts of the country
and/or world. A hospital based retrospective analysis of coroner’s autopsies in Abia State University Teaching Hospital, Aba, over a period of five years. One hundred cases of autopsies fulfilled the inclusion criteria. Sixty-eight of the cases were males and thirty were females, giving a ratio of 2.1:1.
Homicide accounted for 42% of the cases. This is followed by natural deaths (28%), accidents (16%), undetermined (12%) in that order. Only 2% of cases was suicide and were hanging. The above findings suggest that homicide is common in Aba. There is lack of proper documentation of coroner autopsies in Aba, especially motor vehicles accidents.

Key words: Medico- Legal Autopsy, Coroner, Suicide, Homicide.