Epidemiological Profile and Sociodemographic Characteristics of Mechanical Asphyxial Deaths Due to Hanging: A Cross-sectional Observational Prospective Study
DOI:
https://doi.org/10.48165/jfmt.2026.43.03.09Keywords:
Hanging, Mechanical Asphyxia, Suicide, Epidemiology, Medicolegal Autopsy, VadodaraAbstract
Introduction: Hanging remains one of the most prevalent methods of suicide and an important cause of medicolegal autopsies globally. Understanding the epidemiological patterns of hanging deaths is essential for formulating preventive strategies and aiding forensic investigations.
Objective: To study the sociodemographic and epidemiological profile of deaths due to mechanical asphyxia, particularly hanging, at a tertiary care centre in Western India.
Methods: A cross-sectional observational prospective study was conducted at the Department of Forensic Medicine and Toxicology, Medical College Baroda and S.S.G. Hospital, Vadodara, over one year (November 2019 to October 2020). A total of 192 cases of mechanical asphyxial deaths brought for medicolegal autopsy were included. Detailed demographic data, circumstances of death, type of hanging, ligature material, and autopsy findings were systematically recorded. Statistical analysis was performed using chi-square tests.
Results: Of 1803 total medicolegal autopsies, 192 (10.64%) were mechanical asphyxial deaths — 189 cases of hanging and 3 cases of strangulation. Males predominated (70.89%) with a male-to-female ratio of 1:0.4. The most affected age group was 21–30 years (32.27%). Dupatta was the most common ligature material (58.73%). Atypical hanging constituted 67.2% of cases. The majority of cases were from urban areas (95.31%) and belonged to Hindu religion (91.66%). Complete suspension was noted in 55.03% cases and partial hanging in 44.97%.
Conclusion: Hanging is the predominant form of mechanical asphyxial death, predominantly affecting young adult males in the economically active age group. Easy availability of soft ligature materials and lack of mental health awareness are key contributory factors. These findings have important implications for suicide prevention policy.
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