Demographic Characteristics of Deaths Due To Homicide in Iran over the Years 2011 to 2017

Death due to violence (Homicide) is a heinous situation for social health. The purpose of the study was to identify the demographic characteristics and geographical distribution of homicide in Iran over the years 2011-2017.

This longitudinal and descriptive study was performed using secondary data analysis. The total mortality data for homicide resulting from the years 2011 to 2017 were extracted from the Civil Registration Organization and based on the international classification of the cause of death (ICD10). The population of each province to calculate the death rate in the population was taken from the general census of population and housing in both 2011 and 2016. All data were by gender, age, season and province. Using homicide death rate the geographic distribution was compared, and sex composition was compared by sex ratio of the rate, and difference of the rate for the changes over time, and [YLL] was used to analyze the age composition and impact of homicide on the population.

Between 2011 and 2017, an average of 1,360 murders was recorded annually in the country. The homicide rate was declining during the period, especially for women. In 2016, the homicide rate for men was 7.7 times that for women. Seasonally, the lowest and highest rates of homicide among young men were in winter and spring, respectively.

Death due to homicide in young men is a threat to social health and leads to years of lost life in the workforce. The high level in low-income provinces with ethnic subcultures requires regional programs to reduce this problem in the country. Special programs need to be implemented to fill young people's leisure time, especially in high-risk areas.