Sociodemographic and Toxicological Profiles of Poisoning Deaths in Dinajpur, Bangladesh: A Retrospective Study Based on Autopsy Records

Background: Poisoning is a major public health and medicolegal challenge in rural Bangladesh, yet regionspecific data on fatal cases remain scarce.
Objective: To describe the sociodemographic and toxicological profiles of poisoning-related deaths autopsied at Dinajpur Medical College and identify associations between demographic factors and poison type and identify factors associated with suicidal poisoning.
Methods: This retrospective, descriptive, cross-sectional study analyzed 233 consecutive medicolegal autopsy cases of suspected or confirmed poisoning deaths from January 2021 to December 2025. Demographic, medicolegal, and toxicological data were extracted from structured autopsy records. Chi-square tests, ANOVA, Mann-Whitney U test, and binary logistic regression were applied (α = 0.05).
Results: Mean age was 32.4 ± 15.8 years; males comprised 53.2%. Most victims were rural residents (87.1%), married (75.1%), and housewives (39.9%). Suicide was the predominant manner of death (76.8%; 95% CI: 71.0–82.0) and was significantly more common in females (92.7% vs. 62.9%; χ² = 29.235, p < 0.001). Organophosphates were the leading poison (40.8%), followed by aluminium phosphide (15.5%). On logistic regression, female sex (aOR 8.21; 95% CI: 3.39–19.88) and organophosphate poisoning (aOR 34.40; 95% CI: 7.79–151.83) independently predicted suicidal deaths. Age varied significantly across poison types (ANOVA: p< 0.001). Cases peaked in March (14.2%). Mean toxicological report turnaround time was 30.9 ± 29.8 days (median 18 days).
Conclusion: Fatal poisonings in Dinajpur predominantly affect young rural adults, particularly housewives and farmers, and are largely suicidal in nature. Organophosphates remain the leading lethal agent. Strengthened pesticide regulation, community mental health services, and improved forensic toxicology infrastructure are urgently needed.