Interpersonal violence in Southern Algeria: a single-centre forensic study of injury patterns, temporary total incapacity, and documented physical findings.

BACKGROUND: Interpersonal violence represents a major public health and medico-legal concern worldwide. However, data from forensic medicine services in North Africa remain limited. This study aimed to describe injury patterns, temporary functional incapacity, documented physical findings, and psychosocial variables among victims of interpersonal violence examined in a forensic medicine unit in Southern Algeria, and to explore factors associated with documented physical findings and self-reported social life impact. METHODS: A single-centre prospective observational cross-sectional study was conducted in the Department of Forensic Medicine of Hmida Ben Adjila Public Hospital, Laghouat, Algeria. Victims of interpersonal violence examined between September and December 2025 were consecutively included. Sociodemographic characteristics, circumstances of violence, injury patterns, temporary total incapacity (ITT), documented physical findings, psychological screening findings, and self-reported psychosocial impact were recorded during the medico-legal evaluation. Multivariable logistic regression analyses were performed to identify factors associated with documented physical findings and social life impact. RESULTS: A total of 101 victims were included, of whom 66.3% were male. Assaults occurred predominantly in public spaces (50.5%) and most frequently involved perpetrators who were strangers to the victim (87.1%). Contusions were the most common injury type (46.5%). Among the mutually exclusive anatomical categories used for analysis, the thorax was the most frequently classified single anatomical region (47.5%), whereas injuries involving multiple anatomical regions constituted a separate category. The median ITT was 1 day (IQR 1-1), and 88.1% of victims were assigned an ITT of 0-1 day. Documented physical findings were identified in 32.7% of victims at the time of medico-legal evaluation, predominantly scars. Symptoms suggestive of anxiety, depression, and post-traumatic stress were identified in 24.8%, 5.0%, and 3.0% of victims, respectively. Social life impact was reported by 81.2% of victims. In multivariable analysis, hospitalization (adjusted OR 23.3; 95% CI 2.8-194.2; p = 0.004) and multiple injuries (adjusted OR 2.06; 95% CI 1.02-4.15; p = 0.043) were associated with documented physical findings. Documented physical findings were also associated with self-reported social life impact (adjusted OR 3.52; 95% CI 1.29-9.62; p = 0.014). CONCLUSIONS: Although most victims were assigned short ITT durations, documented physical findings and self-reported psychosocial difficulties were frequently recorded during medico-legal evaluation. ITT and documented physical findings represent distinct components of forensic assessment. Given the cross-sectional design and absence of standardized longitudinal follow-up, the documented findings should not be interpreted as permanent sequelae or as definitive evidence of causal attribution to the index assault.