Forensic Odontology as a Public Health Tool: Integrating Identification, Safeguarding, and Data Governance | Chapter 7 | Medical Science: Updates and Prospects Vol. 1

 

Forensic odontology operates at the nexus of health systems and justice, where population-level outcomes—dignified disaster victim identification, timely safeguarding of vulnerable groups, and resilient data infrastructures—depend on how dental information is captured, curated, and interpreted. This review synthesises contemporary evidence on the public health functions of forensic odontology and delineates methodological and governance priorities for the next decade. The study explores the advances in disaster victim identification, emphasising how high-quality ante-mortem records, digital intraoral scans, cone-beam CT, and 2D–3D superimposition can accelerate reconciliations and reduce family uncertainty during mass fatality incidents. It also examines age-estimation practices, highlighting the usefulness of third-molar maturation alongside the real risk of misclassification near legal thresholds, and outlines safeguards for probabilistic reporting and multidisciplinary oversight. This study also assesses the field’s contribution to violence prevention and response, including the detection and documentation of orofacial signs of child maltreatment, intimate partner violence, and human trafficking within trauma-informed care pathways. Community-facing preparedness measures—such as standardised denture marking in long-term care—are discussed as low-cost identification adjuncts. Across domains, the review underscores three imperatives: strict validation with transparent error reporting, privacy-preserving and interoperable data systems linked to missing-person workflows, and workforce development that embeds disaster readiness and safeguarding into dental education and continuing professional development. Equity considerations run throughout, with recommendations for scalable models suited to resource-limited settings and for international collaboration to bolster surge capacity. The review concludes that forensic odontology yields measurable public health benefits when practised within evidence-based protocols and robust governance, and it cautions against techniques that lack a scientific foundation. Limitations include its narrative scope and heterogeneity in study designs and legal frameworks, which may affect generalizability.

 

 

Author(s) Details

Indrapriyadharshini
Karpaga Vinayaga Institute of Dental Sciences, Chinnakolambakkam, Tamil Nadu, India.

 

Please see the book here :- https://doi.org/10.9734/bpi/msup/v1/6610

Rural Criminology in Africa: Historical Evolution and Contemporary Challenges | Chapter 4 | Rural Justice in Africa: Rethinking Crime, Policing and Community Security in Marginalised Spaces

 

Rural crime in Africa has been largely overlooked in criminological research, despite its significant impact on the safety, development, and livelihoods of rural communities. These areas face unique challenges such as poverty, land disputes, weak law enforcement presence, and environmental degradation, which drive a wide range of criminal activities, including livestock theft, poaching, human trafficking, and illegal mining. This article aims to analyse the evolving nature of rural crime in Africa by examining its causes, forms, and impacts. It seeks to distinguish rural crime from urban crime, assess how socio-economic and structural factors influence criminality in rural areas, and propose context-sensitive strategies for crime prevention and policy intervention. A mixed-methods approach was employed, combining qualitative and quantitative research. The study includes a review of existing literature, case studies from selected rural communities, and interviews with key stakeholders such as law enforcement officers, policymakers, and community leaders. This comprehensive methodology allows for both theoretical and practical insights into rural crime dynamics. The study finds that poverty, unemployment, and resource conflicts are the primary drivers of rural crime in Africa. Vulnerable populations, especially women and children, are disproportionately affected. Resource-based crimes linked to environmental degradation are on the rise, revealing the intersection between ecological and criminal issues. Rural communities often rely on informal justice systems due to limited access to formal policing and legal services. The findings underscore the need for interdisciplinary and community-centred approaches to rural crime prevention. Strengthening community policing, integrating informal justice mechanisms, and addressing socio-economic inequalities are critical. The article calls for expanded criminological research on rural areas, policy reforms that reflect the unique needs of rural populations, and collaborative frameworks that promote rural development, human rights, and sustainable security.

 

 

Author(s) Details

Dr. John Motsamai Modise
Tshwane University of Technology, South Africa.

 

Please see the book here :- https://doi.org/10.9734/bpi/mono/978-93-88417-88-4/CH4

An Application of Fuzzy Graph Structure in Human Trafficking | Chapter 6 | Research Updates in Mathematics and Computer Science Vol. 5

The concept of the fuzzy graph structure under the operation union is introduced and applied in the field of human trafficking. Types of human trafficking are treated as points and causes as relations.

Author(s) Details:

Saridha S,
Department of Mathematics, Cauvery College for Women (Autonomous), Trichy-18, India.

Vidhya R,
Department of Mathematics, Cauvery College for Women (Autonomous), Trichy-18, India.

Please see the link here: https://stm.bookpi.org/RUMCS-V5/article/view/14217

Inclusion of Health Care Forensics in Medical Education: Ethical, Legal and Educational Challenges in Identifying and Providing Patient-Centered Care for Victims of Child Abuse, Neglect and Human Trafficking | Chapter 1 | Research Highlights in Disease and Health Research Vol. 4

 The predominance of child abuse and human buying and selling in human existence has happen in various forms for many point in time and now appears expected approaching epidemic percentages in many societies where borders are precarious and enforcement possessions are inadequate. The emergence of juvenile abuse and human trafficking in their various forms is a serious crime that influences virtually each country in the world, where they not only show a violation of the fundamental human rights and dignity of those jolted, but also have an affect their families and loved one who grant permission be inadvertently left behind. While the adulthood of cases of human trafficking have ordinarily involved humans being against one's will forced to undertake sex and labor violations, an arising area of banned organ trafficking to support an growing need for organ transplantation processes can now be included. While youngsters and young adults are ultimate frequently affected sectors of the population for few types of trafficking, human trafficking can influence victims of some age, gender, race, race, culture, or persuasion, and they can disclose in the clinic followed or unaccompanied for urgent care. When giving, a patient may display important signs, symptoms, and clinical shame that are of a suspicious type and suggest further investigation, containing reporting the issues to able authorities, especially if the casualty is an infant or believed a minor, less than 18 years adult in most nations. Since health care professionals are repeatedly the first point of contact when symptoms and shame of human trafficking, child abuse, and added signs of abuse are evident, supplementary modules in health care forensics would be a welcome adding to medical educational programs and public health perspectives for physicians and additional members of the healthcare group. Thus, the goal of this paper search out review the characteristics of human buying and selling and abuse, to summarize key areas of permissible, medical, and managerial responsibility in order to guarantee the availability of optimum and appropriate patient-centered care for fatalities, and to emphasize the meaning of including modules in forensic healing education in healing curricula.

Author(s) Details:

Annalee Mora,
College of Medicine, University of Science Arts and Technology, Montserrat, British West Indies, MSR-1110, USA.

Cheryl Chance,
College of Medicine, University of Science Arts and Technology, Montserrat, British West Indies, MSR-1110, USA.

Orien L. Tulp,
College of Medicine, University of Science Arts and Technology, Montserrat, British West Indies, MSR-1110, USA.

Please see the link here: https://stm.bookpi.org/RHDHR-V4/article/view/9933