Epidemiological aspects of suicide attempts among Moroccan children

Abstract

Suicidal behavior among children has significantly increased in Morocco. We conducted a study on the epidemiological aspect to propose a treatment strategy. Descriptive retrospective study over a period of 3 years (April 2012-April 2015) involving children who visited pediatric medical emergencies of the Children Hospital of Rabat after an autolysis attempt. We observed epidemiological parameters, history, social and family context, the means used, the presumed cause, clinical manifestation, and the management. 66 patients were identified. A female predominance was found (sex =15). The average age was 13 years old. This was a first episode in 97% of cases. Psychiatric history was found in 6 patients. The causes of suicide attempt were unidentified in 65%. The most frequent cause was family conflict (35%). The most frequent method was pharmaceutical drug ingestion (54.4%). Children were asymptomatic (57.6%). Neurological manifestations (30%) were most frequent. Digestive symptoms (12%) and hemodynamic (3%) were also discovered. Patients were hospitalized in a general pediatric service 92.4% of the times, admitted to intensive care 4.5% of the times, and two patients refused to be hospitalized. The treatment consisted of gastric lavage (18%) supplemented by symptomatic measures. The outcome was favorable in 95.4% of cases. We recorded 2 deaths by rat poison poisoning. All patients were advised in writing after leaving to follow up with a psychological treatment. Suicide attempts are the result of an ill being, mostly among children living in a family with conflict. Upstream treatment is essential to identify children at risk. Additionally, a psychiatric care in hospital is essential to avoid recurrences.

Epidemiological Profile of Drug Overdose Reported in South-East Morocco from 2004 to 2016

“…Our findings about the location of drug poisoning indicated it occurred more often in urban areas, which is in alignment with other studies [ 7 , 8 , 16 , 17 ], but the frequency of overdose in rural areas is not negligible (40%). This distribution is likely because the majority of the rural population use traditional medications, so pharmaceutic drugs are less present and even avoided.…”

“…We identified that a high proportion (91.1%) of intentional poisoning cases involved females, which contrasts with a frequency of 52.3% reported in a national study [ 8 ]. Many studies [ 12 – 14 , 16 ] have reported that drugs are being used in deliberate self-harming and in suicide attempts. Previous national studies found a transition in products used in acute poisoning, whereby drugs are increasingly being used in suicide attempts instead of the more traditional products such as paraphenylenediamine and toxic plants [ 7 , 8 ].…”

Epidemiologic profile and triggering factors of voluntary poisoning in teenagers

“…The presence of a psychiatric disorder multiplies by a factor of 11 to 27 the risk of suicidal attempt over the general population. [ 21 ] In our study, around half of the children had mental health issues. Out of these, a third accounted for depression, making them extremely susceptible to suicidal attempts.…”

Characterization of suicidal behavior among children in a depressive episode: case series study

“…In this regard, the literature shows that dysfunctional families, family conflict, and parents who use alcohol and other drugs are associated with suicidal behavior in children. 21,22 Conflicts between parents and children appear to be a major precipitating factor for children and more frequent compared to adolescents. 2 as was found in the present study.…”