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.
