Child homicide in northern Tunisia: a retrospective study of forensic autopsy cases

• Published in: Egyptian journal of forensic sciences 2021-11, Vol.11 (1), p.1-7, Article 32
• Main Authors: Grayaa, Meriem, Kort, Ikram, Naceur, Yomn, Gharbaoui, Meriem, Kouada, Rihem, Bekir, Olfa, Allouche, Mohamed
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Autopsies; Autopsy; Child; Forensic Medicine; Homicide; Medicine; Medicine & Public Health; Murders & murder attempts; Original Article; Pathology; Sex crimes; Tunisia
• ISSN: 2090-5939; 2090-536X; 2090-5939
• DOI: 10.1186/s41935-021-00247-1

Background As far as we know, no previous research has investigated child homicide in Tunisia. In this context, our study was carried out to analyze the epidemiological and medico-legal characteristics of child homicide occurring in northern Tunisia over a 17-year period. Results Eighty-seven cases were collected, with a male-to-female ratio of 2.4. The mean age of the victims was 12.6 years for both sexes. We found that 56.3% of the cases were aged between 15 and 18 years. The majority of deaths under 15 years of age occurred at home as a result of intrafamilial homicide. Victims aged more than 15 years were more likely to be assaulted outside the home by a non-family member. The most frequent method of homicide was sharp force (39%) affecting mostly the heart and the lung, followed by blunt trauma (25%), which affected mainly the head. Sexual assault was diagnosed at autopsy in six victims (6.9%). Conclusions The study offers available data concerning the patterns of child homicide in northern Tunisia and may help to implement preventive measures against this kind of crime.