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Sharp force injuries represent a major constituent of physical assaults and homicidal fatalities, especially in countries with strict firearm legislations. In forensic investigations, the examination of homicidal sharp force cases remains a challenge for both determining the cause and manner of a death. The aim of this study is to analyze the patterns of homicidal sharp force cases in Northern Tunisia. We perform a descriptive study with a retrospective data collection over an 11-year period (January 2007-December 2017). During the study period, 405 cases of homicidal sharp force casualties were observed. The mean age was 33.9 years, with a range of 2 months-89 years. We note a male predominance (male to female ratio of 4.7), most of who were single (91.2%). The casualties lived mainly in urban areas (68.4%) and were unemployed or daily workers in 61% of cases. Assaults occurred mainly during summer (52.4%) at weekends (38%) in a public place (62.4%) with essentially one perpetrator (68.6%) who was an acquaintance of the deceased in 32.6% of cases. The injuries were primarily located in the thorax (75%) and were associated with defensive wounds in the upper limbs. The most frequent cause of death observed was hemorrhage (82.9%). The analysis of patterns in homicidal sharp force cases allows us to construct specific preventive measures that target young males. Lesion analysis aids forensic specialists in following a thorough autopsy to determine the causes of death., (Copyright © 2022. Published by Elsevier Ltd.)

Data about homicidal burns remain scarce. Intentional burns are a challenging situation in the case of an individual found dead in a fire zone with no witness of the fatal act. This study aimed to analyze the victim profiles of homicidal burns in Northern Tunisia. It was a descriptive cross-sectional study with a retrospective data collection over 15 years (January 2005-December 2019). In total, 60 cases of homicidal burns were collected. The mean age was 40.22 ± 18.1 years (range 4-82 years). We noted a male predominance (sex ratio M/F = 1.3). Most of the victims were married (48.3%), unemployed (40%), and living in an urban area (63.3%). Homicidal burns occurred most frequently in private homes for female victims (80.8%) and in public places for male victims (31.4%) (p < 0.001). The reported motive varied according to the victim's sex; males were mostly assaulted by an acquaintance in an interpersonal conflict (47.1%), and females were mostly assaulted by an intimate partner while in a dispute (42.3%; p = 0.001). The median total body surface area (TBSA) that was burned was 60.4%, and burn injuries were observed mainly in the anterior part of the body. In 19 cases, the burns were associated with another type of trauma, from which the most common association was burning and stab wounds (12 cases). The identified pattern of homicidal burn casualties was similar to the reported data in Western countries and to homicides in general in Tunisia, suggesting that prevention measures should address those of intentional interpersonal violence., (© 2021 American Academy of Forensic Sciences.)

Background: Death in workplaces remains a public health issue. However, data regarding workplace homicides are scarce in most of regions, especially in the Arab world. The aim of our study was to analyze the epidemiological features of workplace homicides in northern Tunisia., Materials and Methods: This is a descriptive study with retrospective data collection over a 15-year period (January 2003 to December 2017)., Results: We recorded 50 workplace homicide cases. Sex ratio was 49:1 (male/female). The mean age was 41.6 ± 15.13 years. Occupations the most at risk were security guards (odds ratio, 8.25; 95% confidence interval, 4.28-15.91; P < 0.0001) and taxi drivers (odds ratio, 5.61; 95% confidence interval, 2.39-13.18; P < 0.00001). The motive of the aggression was either interpersonal conflict or robbery (47.9% and 43.8%, respectively). Victims working as security guards or taxi drivers were most frequently assaulted by an unknown perpetrator, the motive being robbery. Death was most frequently secondary to blunt trauma (n = 20) or stab wounds (n = 15)., Conclusions: Workplace homicides represent a substantial phenomenon in Tunisia. The application of prevention measures is required based on improving environmental measures targeting, in priority, security guards and taxi drivers.

Background: In Tunisia and in the Arab world, few data are available about homicide patterns. The aim of our study was to analyse the victims' profiles and the general pattern., Methods: 636 homicide victims were autopsied at the Legal Medicine Department of Charles Nicolle Hospital in Tunis, over a period of 10 years (2005-2014)., Results: Victims were males in 79.7% with a male-to-female ratio of 3.93 and the average age was 37.7 years. The victim was generally from an urban area (66.7%), single (55.7%) and semiskilled (50.2%). The most common methods of homicide were sharp force (51.7%) and blunt trauma (24.8%)., Conclusions: This study suggests applying urgent preventive measures targeting essentially young males and the importance of a national 'Violence Repository'., Competing Interests: Competing interests: None declared., (Published by the BMJ Publishing Group Limited. For permission to use (where not already granted under a licence) please go to http://www.bmj.com/company/products-services/rights-and-licensing/.)

Objectives: To analyze the impact of the Tunisian Revolution on suicide and homicide patterns in Tunisia., Methods: It is a retrospective, cross-sectional study, including all the cases of homicides and suicides that occurred during an 8-year period (2007-2014) in Northern Tunisia. We compared data before and after the revolution., Results: After the revolution, the number of suicides rose 1.7 times, with a prevalence rising from 1.8 to 3.12 suicides per 100,000 persons per year. Homicides rose 1.3 times after the revolution. For both manner of death, victims were mostly males, aged between 20 and 39 years, living in urban areas. Hanging and self-immolation rose, respectively, 1.8 and 3 times after 2011. We observed suicide cases most frequently occurred in public places and in front of public administration after 2011. Homicide victims' profile and circumstances showed a single variation which is an increase in number of cases happening in rural areas., Conclusions: Our results proved a short-term impact of the transition period on homicides and suicides. Urgent preventive measures are needed especially to decrease the suicide rates.

Objective: To analyze the victims profile related to death among homeless people. Study design: A descriptive, retrospective, and cross-sectional study. Methods: We included all deaths among homeless people that occurred during a 10-year period (2005-2014) that were autopsied in the Department of Legal Medicine of the Charles Nicolle Hospital of Tunis. Causes of death were classified according to the International Statistical Classification of Diseases and Related Health Problems 10th Revision. Data were classified in three sections: sociodemographic data, circumstances of death, and autopsy findings. A univariate data analysis was performed. Results: The sex ratio (M/F) was of 7.45. The average age was of 59 years. The majority of deaths (80.9%) occurred in the metropolis of Tunis with a significant occurrence of cases in other governorates after the 2011 revolution (P = 0.002). Deaths occurred more often during winter (34.8%). The bodies were frequently discovered in public places (36.0%) and private locations (34.0%). The deaths of 55.3% of cases were attributed to natural causes, significantly affecting the elderly, whereas the accidental causes (25.7%) were more frequent before the age of 49 years, followed by suicides (3.9%) and homicides (3.3%). Conclusions: Our study highlighted a phenomenon not yet studied in Tunisia. Our results highlight an urgent need for preventive measures focused on the improvement of healthcare measures among homeless people. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]