Injury-related deaths among women aged 10-50 years in Bangladesh, 1996-97

Background Few studies have examined injury-related deaths among women in B angladesh. We did a case-finding study to identify causes and the impact of intentional and unintentional injury-related deaths among women aged 10-50 years in Bangladesh. Methods Between 1996 and 1997, health care and other service providers at 4 751 health facilities throughout Bangladesh were interviewed about their kn owledge of deaths among women aged 10-50 years. In addition, at all public facilities providing inpatient service. medical records of women who died d uring the study period were reviewed. The reported circumstances surroundin g each death were carefully reviewed to attribute the most likely cause of death. Findings 28 998 deaths among women aged 10-50 years were identified in our study, and, of these, 6610 (23%) were thought to be caused by intentional o r unintentional injuries. About half (3317) of the injury deaths were attri butable to suicide, 352 (5%) to homicide, 1100 (17%) to accidental injuries , and the intent was unknown for 1841 (28%) deaths. The unadjusted rate of suicides were higher in the Khulna administrative division (27.0 per 100 00 0) than the other four administrative divisions of Bangladesh (range 3.5-11 .3 per 100 000). Poisoning (n=3971) was the commonest cause of injury-relat ed death-60% of all injury deaths (6610) and 14% of all deaths (28 998). Ot her common causes of injury deaths in order of frequency were hanging or su ffocation, road traffic accidents, bums, drowning, physical assault, firear m or sharp instrument injury, and snake or animal bite. Interpretation Intentional and unintentional injuries are a major cause of death among women aged 10-50 years in Bangladesh. Strategies to reduce inju ry-related deaths among women need to be devised.