Background: Traumatic and violent deaths are the most prominent public health problem in
South Africa. The number of such deaths is under-estimated and under-reported in rural and
poor parts of South Africa, where the majority of the population resides.
Objective: To study the incidence of traumatic and/or violent death in the Mthatha region of
South Africa.
Method: A record review was undertaken from 1993 to 2015 of 24 419 medico-legal autopsies
performed at Mthatha Forensic Pathology Laboratory.
Results: Between 1996 and 2015 autopsies were performed on 26972 victims of unnatural
death of these, 18703 (69.3%) followed traumatic deaths. The average traumatic and violent
death rate is 135 per 100000 of the population annually. There has been a steady decline in the
death rate from 156/100000 of the population in 1996 to 123.6/100000 in 2015. Most (32.7%)
victims were between 21 and 30 years old. Males outnumbered females at a ratio of 4:1in
respect of traumatic and violent deaths in this region of Transkei in the study period.
Conclusion: The incidence of traumatic and/or violent deaths in the Transkei sub-region of
South Africa is high. The situation needs urgent intervention to save lives.
Keywords: Trauma; Injury; Wound; Unnatural; Death.