Unnatural Deaths: A 5-year Retrospective Study at Ratchaburi Hospital

Abstract

     The purpose of this retrospective descriptive study was to consider the major causes of death and the related characteristics of the unnatural death in Ratchaburi Hospital. Considering the retrospective data since 1 November 2009 to 31 December 2014, there were the unnatural death 2,418 cases in total that were mostly male (77.6%). The proportion of male to female was 3.5: 1 and the average age was 43 years. The peak age group was 31-45 years (27.9%). The traffic accident was the major cause of death. The following cause was sudden death from diseases. In this case, heart disease was the leading cause; a half of this was ischemic heart disease. Excluding from traffic accident, the mention accidental death was comprised of falling down, falling from height, drowning, and electric shock. Using firearm was the main cause of death in homicide category. Furthermore, most of suicidal death was caused from toxic substance ingestion and hanging. Concerning the prisoner, the deaths were mostly male and died from HIV-related infection. In order to decrease the numbers of unnatural death, reduce the risk of traffic accidents, enforce the laws on firearm restrictions and prevent the risk of accidents in each age group are recommended.