Seasonal Pattern in Firearm Injury-Related Cases at Casualty Department of a Teaching Hospital: Seasonal Trends in Firearm Injury Incidences

Mobin Inam Pal; Aisha Rasheed; Nadia Aslam; Abdul Samad; Ummara Munir; . Marvi; Uzma Waseem

doi:10.54393/pjhs.v5i08.1687

Authors

Mobin Inam Pal Department of Forensic Medicine and Toxicology, Faisalabad Medical University, Faisalabad, Pakistan
Aisha Rasheed Department of Forensic Medicine and Toxicology, Liaquat University of Medical and Health Sciences, Jamshoro, Pakistan
Nadia Aslam Department of Forensic Medicine and Toxicology, Liaquat University of Medical and Health Sciences, Jamshoro, Pakistan
Abdul Samad Department of Forensic Medicine and Toxicology, Liaquat University of Medical and Health Sciences, Jamshoro, Pakistan
Ummara Munir Department of Forensic Medicine and Toxicology, Sheikh Zayed Medical College, Rahim Yar Khan, Pakistan
. Marvi Department of Pharmacy, University of Baluchistan, Quetta, Pakistan
Uzma Waseem Department of Anatomy, Rahbar Medical and Dental College, Lahore, Pakistan

DOI:

https://doi.org/10.54393/pjhs.v5i08.1687

Keywords:

Firearm Injuries, Seasonal Patterns, Temporal Trends, Emergency Cases, Preventive Strategies

Abstract

Firearm injuries pose a substantial public health concern worldwide, with their incidence and patterns varying across different regions and time periods. Understanding the temporal trends and seasonal patterns of firearm injury-related cases is essential for guiding preventive strategies and optimizing healthcare resource allocation. Objective: To determine the seasonal patterns and trends in firearm injury-related cases. Methods: A retrospective observational study was conducted at Casualty Department, Forensic Medicine Toxicology, Liaquat University Hospital, Hyderabad, Pakistan from 1^stJanuary 2021 to 31^stDecember 2023. Four hundred and forty-three emergency cases associated with firearm injuries across the three years were enrolled. Results: The occurrences decreased from February to March and November to December, with peaks in August and January.Seasonal decomposition analysis further confirmed the presence of a noticeable seasonal trend, with spikes observed in January and August, indicating a potential surge in firearm injury incidences during festivals. Moreover, an increasing trend in firearm-related injuries was observed from March to August, suggesting increase in such incidents during warmer months. Conclusions: The firearm-related injuries exhibit seasonal patterns, spiking in summer (months from March to August), the cause of which needs to be elaborated in future researches.

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