The definition of the person, place and time characteristics of women homicides from news sources in 2017

Abstract

Objective: In our research, it was aimed to make a definition of the person, place and time characteristics of women homicides in 2017 and to draw attention to the violence against women. Methods: This research is a descriptive study. The data are collected between 1 January and 31 March 2018. A total of 402 women deaths were listed on the two internet sites, which record the murders of women and are available at http://kadincinayetleri.org/ and http:// anitsayac.com/?year=2017. Suspicious deaths, suicides and accidental deaths with bullet have been excluded. 317 women who lost their lives in 284 homicides were considered femicide. These events are scanned from seven newspapers and three news sites accessible via the internet to news archives. During the research, a 30-item data record form is used. SPSS package program is used in the computer environment for data entry and analysis. During the analysis, the numbers and percentages are used for summarizing categorical data and the median (Min-Max) is used for summarizing numeric data. Since the research was done through internet sites where the whole open access of the public is available and not in direct contact with human, no ethical or official permission has been obtained. Results: The median age of the women was 35 (Min: 1 Max: 88) and that of the males was 36 (Min: 7 Max: 90). 8,2% of the women and 3% of the men were from foreign nationals. 59,9% of the women (n=154) and 67% of the men (n=120) were married. At the time of the murder, 7 women were pregnant. 317 women killed by 284 men. 59,3% of the women were killed by a partner/former parter and 26,9% were killed by a family member such as father or brother. Cause of 79 homicides was a sudden discussion. In 52,2% of cases were used a firearm as a death tool. 2,5% of women who murder (n=8) had been raped. 65,1% of homicides occurred at home. 27,8% of the murders were in the spring and 27,1% were in the winter. The Marmara Region was the first in the murders with 27.1% (n=86). Conclusion: Violence against women and women homicides that are a major public health problem is continued to be an important problem both in our country and all around the world. Similar research should be done to raise awareness about women homicides.