Homicide death in Dar es Salaam, Tanzania 2005

Abstract

Violence disproportionately affects low- and middle-income countries. Deeper understanding is needed in areas where little research has occurred. The objectives of the study were to: (a) ascertain rate of homicide death; (b) describe the victims and circumstances surrounding their deaths in Dar es Salaam, Tanzania in 2005. This study was developed by adapting the WHO/CDC Injury Surveillance Guidelines (Holder et al., 2001). Data on 12 variables were collected on all homicide deaths. Descriptive statistics and hypothesis tests were done when appropriate. Age standardised, age-specific and cause-specific mortality rates are presented. The overall homicide rate was 12.57 (males and females respectively: 22.26 and 2.64). Homicide deaths were 93.4% male, mostly unemployed, with a mean age of 28.2 years. Most deaths occurred in urban areas. Mob violence was the cause of 57% of deaths. The risk of homicide death for males was greater than the world average, but for females it was less. Most homicides were committed by community members policing against thieves.

Keywords:

• homicide
• surveillance
• Africa
• Tanzania
• mob violence

Acknowledgements

Funding was provided by Ruth L. Kirschstein National Research Service Award, NIH NINR 1 F31 NR008809–01A19/2002- 8/2004 and Interdisciplinary Research Training on Violence Predoctoral Fellowship: Institutional NRSA, NIMH (T32 MH20014–01A1). Assistance with map analysis was given by Thomas Newcomb.