Epidemiological And Forensic Assessment of Firearm Related Deaths in Peshawar

Abstract

Objectives: This study aims to assess the epidemiological pattern of injuries in firearm-related deaths presented to the Forensic Medicine Department of Khyber Medical College, Peshawar. It also seeks to identify risk factors associated with firearm injuries and examine the relationship between demographic characteristics and firearm deaths in District Peshawar.

Methodology: This cross-sectional analytical study involved 797 firearm death cases at the Forensic Medicine Department of Khyber Medical College, Peshawar, from 1^st July 2023 to 30^th June 2024. All firearm death cases were taken as samples presented during that time. Data was collected via a non-probability convenience sampling technique and analyzed using SPSS version 22. Chi-square was used to assess any association between causes of firearm death and demographic variables.

Results: Among the 797 participants, 94.7% (755/797) were male, while 5.3% (42/797) were female. The mean age was 36.65 ± 13.6 years, ranging from 16 to 80 years. Additionally, 87.8% (700/797) of the subjects were from urban areas, and 12.2% (97/797) were from rural areas. Additionally, 20.3% (162/797) of the subjects sustained a single injury, while 79.7% (635/797) had multiple injuries. Among the 797 subjects, 2.4% (19/797) were cases of suicide. Furthermore, 94.2% (751/797) experienced immediate deaths, whereas 5.8% (46/797) had delayed deaths. In the case of firearm ranges, the contact range was 20.5% (163), the close range was 14.7 % (117), the near shot range was 35.1% (280), and the distant shot was 29.7% (237). A low level of education is significantly associated with firearm deaths.

Conclusion: This study provides valuable insights into the patterns and outcomes of firearm injuries in District Peshawar. The findings align with some global trends while highlighting unique regional differences. A low level of education is significantly associated with firearm deaths.

Keywords: Firearm injury, Pattern of injury, Firearm ranges