Medico legal and epidemiological aspects of femicide in a judicial district of north eastern Italy. (April 2016)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Moreschi, Carlo; Da Broi, Ugo; Zamai, Valentina; Palese, Francesca
• Is Part Of: Journal of forensic and legal medicine. Volume 39(2016)
• Page Start: 65
• Page End: 73
• Publication Date: 2016-04
• Subjects: Femicide -- Risk factors -- Prevention; Medical jurisprudence -- Periodicals; Forensic sciences -- Periodicals; Forensic Medicine -- Periodicals; Médecine légale -- Périodiques; Electronic journals; 614.1
• DOI: 10.1016/j.jflm.2016.01.017
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 1752-928X

Abstract

Abstract: Femicide is the intentional killing of a woman because she is female, and often occurs when there are pre-existing relations, intimate or otherwise, between the victim and the murderer. A retrospective epidemiological study was made of 34 female homicides recorded in a university departmental register of post-mortems, pertaining to a judicial district of about 700, 000 inhabitants in north eastern Italy, during a 21-year period from January 1st 1993 to December 31st 2013. The temporal trend, the socio-demographic characteristics of victims and perpetrators, the circumstances surrounding the crime and the risk factors for femicide were studied with the aim of identifying and developing preventive strategies. Highlights: Medico legal and epidemiological aspects of femicide in north eastern Italy. Analysis: temporal trend, data of victims and perpetrators, circumstances, risk factors. Treatment: supervision by health/social authorities, treatment of psychological/mental diseases. Prevention: judiciary monitoring of domestic violences, alcohol/drug abuse dissuasion.