Burnt pregnant wives: a social stigma

The incidence of burns in pregnant females is on the rise in villages in and around Aligarh. Hence, the study of such cases epidemiologically is of paramount importance to throw light on the exact nature of the incidents. This study was done on 1200 patients over a period of 5 years in JNMCH, AMU, Aligarh and data revealed 384 (32%) cases of burnt pregnant females who were in the age group of 19–35 years (median age = 27 years). Maximum number of deaths occurred in patients with a TBSA more than 50 and 70% burns. Period of amenorrhoea ranged from 1 to 8 months. Number of patients who expelled the dead foetus were 86. This study throws light on the bias against pregnant females, dowry factor and still further, female foeticide and oedipal dominance of mother in law over the grooms.