000			04067nam a22003257a 4500
003			OSt
005			20240305193718.0
008			221012b |||||||| |||| 00| 0 eng d
022			_aeISSN: 1821-9241
022			_aprint ISSN: 1821-6404
028			_b Phone: +255 28 298 3384
028			_b Fax: +255 28 298 3386
028			_b Email: vc@bugando.ac.tz
028			_b Website: www.bugando.ac.tz
040			_cDLC
041			_aEnglish
100			_a Phillipo L Chalya _915821
222			_a Mob justice, medico-legal, social, public health problem, Tanzania
245			_aMob justice as an emerging medico-legal, social and public health problem in north-western Tanzania _b a need for immediate attention
260			_aMwanza, Tanzania: _bTanzania Journal of Health Research & _b Catholic University of Health and Allied Sciences [CUHAS – Bugando] _c2015/1/8
490			_vTanzania Journal of Health Research Volume 17 Issue 1
520			_aAbstract Background: Mob-justice poses a medico-legal, social and public health problem in most developing countries including Tanzania and has shown to have negative effects on social and health of the country, communities, and families. This study was conducted to analyze the mob-justice situation in north-western Tanzania to determine the causes and injury characteristics of mob-justice cases and the outcome of treatment among survivors. Methods: This prospective study involved non-consecutive cases of mob-justice that were reported at Bugando Medical Centre in northwestern Tanzania from August 2006 to June 2014. Bugando Medical Centre in Mwanza, north-western Tanzania. Recruitment of cases to participate in the study was done in the pathology and surgery departments. All mob justice cases that were brought in dead (deceased) underwent autopsy examination in the pathology department and those who were severely injured (alive) were managed in the surgical wards by the admitting surgical team. Information on the cases was obtained from police, the relatives, friends and other witnesses if available. Variables studied included socio-demographic data of victims (age, sex, occupation and education), causes of mob-justice, weapons and methods used in executing mob-justice, body region affected and the type of injury. Results: A total of 234 cases (i.e. 170(72.6%) deaths and 64 (27.4%) seriously injured patients) of mob-justice were studied. The median age of victims was 28 years. Males outnumbered females by a ratio of 6.1: 1. The most common reason for a mob-justice was theft/robbery in 63.2% of cases. Stoning (50.4%) and burning (43.6%) were the most frequent methods used in executing mob-justice. The head (95.7%) and the musculoskeletal (63.2%) were the most common body region injured. Open wounds (97.4%) and fractures (47.9%) were the most common type of injuries sustained. More than 70% of the victims who were brought in alive (64 cases) were treated surgically, of which wound debridement (75.6%) was the most common procedure performed. Complication and mortality rates were 51.6% and 51.1% respectively. The age > 60 years, late presentation > 48 hours, severe head injury (GCS 3-8) and admission systolic blood pressure < 90 mmHg significantly influenced mortality (p < 0.001). The overall median length of hospital stay was 28 days. Patients who had long bone fractures stayed longer in the hospital and this was statistically significant (p < 0.001). Conclusion: Mob-justice constitutes a medico-legal, social and public health problem in Tanzania that needs immediate attention. Addressing the root causes of mob-justice such as poverty, lack of education, unemployment, and substance abuse will reduce the incidence of mob-justice in our environment, hence saving life.
700			_a Isdori H Ngayomela _923318
700			_aPeter F Rambau _922887
700			_a Kahima J Kahima _922885
700			_aAnthony Kapesa _922819
700			_aSospatro E Ngallaba _922840
856			_yhttps://doi.org/10.4314/thrb.v17i1.
942			_2ddc _cVM
999			_c19179 _d19179