A multi-perspective review of the autopsies carried out on the children by the department of forensic medicine within the five-year period between 2006 and 2010 in and around deni̇zli̇

In this thesis study, it is aimed to analyse the cases of children in the age group of 0-18 years, whose autopsies were carried out by the Department of Forensic Medicine in a five-year period between 2006 and 2010 in and around Denizli from multiple aspects. In the said study, it has been seen that 121 (14.1%) out of 857 cases were the deaths of children in the age group of 0-18 years. The average age of the cases is 6.22±6.88 and 79 cases (65.3%) are male and 42 cases (34.7%) are female. The maximum number of deaths has occurred in 2009 with 28 cases (23.1%) and it is followed by the years 2008 with 25 cases (20.7%), 2010 with 24 cases (19.8%), 2006 with 23 cases (19.0%), and 2007 with 21 cases (17.4%), respectively. When reviewed according to their age groups, it has been observed that the maximum number of deaths has occurred between the ages of 0 and 4 with 71 cases (58.7%) and it is followed by the age groups of 15-18 with 29 cases (23.9%), 5-9 with 11 cases (9.1%), and 10-14 with 10 cases (8.3 %), respectively. As a result of the evaluation of the origins of death, it has been determined that the origin was natural causes in 44 cases (36.4%) and it is followed by accidents in 41 cases (33.9%), murders with 15 cases (12.4%), and suicides with 8 cases (6.6%), respectively, and the origin could not be detected in 13 cases (10.7%). When reviewed according to their age groups, it has been determined that the most common causes of death in the age group of 0-4 years were natural causes and accidents. It has been observed that 16 (36.4%) out of the deaths resulted from natural causes were caused by infection, and the maximum number of deaths caused by infection occurred due to pneumonia with 10 cases (22.7%). It has been detected that pneumonia and still birth share the first place among the death cases resulted from natural causes with 10 cases (22.7%) and it is followed by aspiration of stomach contents with 6 cases (13.6%). The most common cause of unnatural deaths in childhood is accidents with 41 cases (33.9%) and the causes most frequently seen among accidents are drownings with 11 cases (26.8%), CO intoxication with 6 cases (14.7%), fallings from height with 5 cases (12.2%), and traffic accidents with 3 cases (7.3%). In order to decrease the number of infant and maternal deaths resulted from natural causes, the number and quality of observations during pregnancy should be improved, and pregnant women having risky and chronic diseases should be detected. We think that births should be planned and ensured to be performed in health institutions and post-pregnancy observation programs should become widespread. In order to decrease the number of deaths due to infections and other diseases, early diagnosis and treatment studies should be increased and children should be enabled to grow up in a hygienic environment and eat properly. It has been detected that the most common causes of accidental deaths are drownings, CO intoxications, and fallings from height. Therefore in order to prevent accidents, families should be educated with respect to the fact that children should not be left uncontrolled, and both in the preschool and school periods children should also be educated on the risks that they faced, ways of protection, name and phone numbers of persons whom can get immediate assistance and basic knowledge about first aid appropriate for their age