Epidemiology and Seasonality of Interpersonal Violence in Southeastern Iran: A Cross-Sectional Study

Introduction: Interpersonal violence can be affected by many different environmental factors, including ethnic diversity, regional deprivation, and border location. Given the lack of local data from southeastern Iran, this study aimed to examine the pattern and characteristics of injuries resulting from interpersonal violence among patients referred to the emergency department of Khatam Al-Anbia Hospital in Zahedan.Methods: This is a descriptive cross-sectional study that involved all patients admitted to the emergency department because of interpersonal violence from ۲۰۲۳ to ۲۰۲۴. Data were collected from the patient's files and analyzed using SPSS version ۲۷.Results: A total of ۱,۸۳۸ victims of interpersonal violence were included. The majority were male (۹۳%), and the median age was ۲۳ years. Firearms accounted for ۲۰۲ (۱۰.۹%) of cases, while ۴۱۸ (۲۲.۸%) involved cold weapons. Penetrating trauma occurred in nearly ۱,۰۱۰ (۵۵%) of conflicts, and most injuries involved the extremities. In assessing seasonal changes, the frequency of injury severity and the types of interpersonal violence showed statistically significant differences (p < ۰.۰۰۱ and p = ۰.۰۲, respectively). The highest prevalence of interpersonal violence was observed during the summer season (۵۸۷, ۳۱.۹%). Also, the most severe injuries (ESI levels ۱ and ۲: ۵۵۸, ۹۵.۱%) occurred in this season.Conclusions: It can be seen from the results that interpersonal violence in Zahedan conforms to national trends, but the greater use of weapons necessitates regional preventative measures.

کلیدواژه ها:

Violence ، Trauma ، Seasons ، Emergency