Increasing rate of deliberate self poisoning

Beck, Paula; Scorer, R. C.; Lazarus, John; Smith, Patrick K.; Routledge, Philip A.

doi:10.1136/bmj.308.6931.789

Cited by 9 publications

(5 citation statements)

References 0 publications

Supporting

Mentioning

Contrasting

Order By: Relevance

“…However, despite this, there appears to be an increase in deliberate self-harm in males over the past decade in some parts of the world. 1,27,30,31 In Zimbabwe, the risk of parasuicide in women has always been higher than that for men, 32 perhaps as a result of higher social stresses in a male-dominated society and/or to the fact that men often choose more violent, and successful, methods of suicide. However, in Sri Lanka a smaller proportion of females than males indulged in selfpoisoning, which was thought to be related to the fact that in Sri Lanka females are less exposed to social and psychological stresses because of the traditional way of life.…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Poisoning in Zimbabwe: a survey of eight major referral hospitals

Tagwireyi

Ball

Nhachi

2002

J of Applied Toxicology

View full text Add to dashboard Cite

A retrospective study of the pattern of poisoning cases admitted to eight major urban referral hospitals in Zimbabwe over a 2-year period (1998-1999 inclusive) was conducted to describe the pattern of poisoning at these centres. There were a total of 2764 hospital admissions due to poisoning, involving a total of 2846 toxic agents. Accidental poisoning (AP) and deliberate self-poisoning (DSP) accounted for 48.9% (1352 cases) and 41.3% (1142 cases), respectively. With AP, the highest number of cases (45.9%) occurred in children below the age of 5 years, with half of these due to chemicals, mainly paraffin. In the DSP group, however, more than 60% of all cases occurred in the 16-25-year age group. In addition, twice as many females as males were admitted for DSP compared with an overall male/female ratio of 1 : 1.2. Pesticides (31.4%) and pharmaceuticals (30.4%) were the most common groups of toxic agents responsible for the hospital admissions. Unknown toxins, natural toxins and pesticides showed the highest mortality rates (15.4%, 8.3% and 6.7%, respectively). Compared with the last major survey of poisoning in Zimbabwe, the pattern of poisoning at referral hospitals has changed over the last decade, with an increase in pesticide and pharmaceutical cases and a marked fall in cases of traditional medicine poisoning. Educational and legislative interventions may be required to address these changes. There is the need also to investigate further the high mortality rates associated with traditional medicine poisoning.

show abstract

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Poisoning in Zimbabwe: a survey of eight major referral hospitals

Tagwireyi

Ball

Nhachi

2002

J of Applied Toxicology

View full text Add to dashboard Cite

show abstract

“…The incidence of parasuicide is 10-20 times higher than that of suicide. Recently, however, suicide rates have increased in young men, and this rise has been accompanied by increases in the number of male parasuicide admissions 3 4. In addition, in 30-47% of cases of suicide the individual has a history of parasuicide, and 3-10% of individuals who commit parasuicide commit suicide within 10 years of their attempted suicide 5 6 7 8…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Relation between parasuicide, suicide, psychiatric admissions, and socioeconomic deprivation

Gunnell¹,

Peters²,

Kammerling³

et al. 1995

BMJ

209

108

View full text Add to dashboard Cite

“…EDITOR, - Peter Beck and colleagues report an increase in the absolute number of men, and the ratio of men to women, admitted for self poisoning in South Glamorgan during 1986-92 1. The increased mortality in the decade after an admission for self poisoning 2,3 or other form of deliberate self harm3 is well recognised.…”

mentioning

confidence: 99%