Analysis of the causes of death in children and adolescents in the autopsy material of the Department of Forensic Medicine at the Medical University of Białystok from 2006 to 2024 = Analiza przyczyn zgonów dzieci i młodzieży w materiale sekcyjnym
Analysis of the causes of death in children and adolescents in the autopsy material of the Department of Forensic Medicine at the Medical University of Białystok from 2006 to 2024

Summary/Abstract: Aim of the study: assessment of the structure of causes of death in children and adolescents up to 18 years of age in the autopsy material of the Department of Forensic Medicine at the Medical University of Białystok in the years 2006–2024. Material and methods: the analysis was conducted on a group of 333 cases of deaths in children and adolescents, based on data contained in 7,551 autopsy reports, which represents 4.41% of all forensic autopsies performed during the study period. The analysis included the cause of death, sex, and accompanying circumstances such as season of the year, day of the week, and place of residence. The collected material was processed statistically according to the adopted classification criteria, and the results were presented in both descriptive and graphical form. Results: the analysis showed that the most common causes of death were accidents, including 111 traffic accidents and 84 non‑traffic accidents. The highest number of deaths was observed during the summer months and on weekends. A predominance of deaths among boys was noted, accounting for 216 cases (65%), while deaths among girls constituted 117 cases (35%). The analysis revealed differences in the structure of causes of death depending on place of residence. In rural areas, traffic accidents were the leading cause of death, representing 43.5%. In contrast, in urban areas, deaths most frequently resulted from non‑traffic accidents, with a proportion of 29%. Summary: the study results indicate the need for a multidirectional approach to the prevention of deaths in children, and the autopsy material constitutes a reliable source of epidemiological data in cases of deaths among minors. These data provide not only a basis for scientific analyses but may also serve as a useful tool supporting preventive measures and contribute to the development of an effective strategy for reducing mortality among children and adolescents.

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