Epidemiology of Intentional Self-Poisoning in rural Sri Lanka

Abstract

Weinvestigated the epidemiology of intentional self-poisoning in rural Sri Lanka by prospectively in rural Sri Lanka by prospectively recording 2189 admissions to two recording 2189 admissions to two secondary hospitals.Many patients were secondary hospitals.Many patients were young (median age 25 years), male (57%) young (median age 25 years), male (57%) and used pesticides (49%).Of the198 who died,156 were men (case fatality12.4%) died,156 were men (case fatality12.4%) and 42 were women (4.5%).Over half of and 42 were women (4.5%).Over half of female deaths werein those under 25 years old; male deaths were spread more years old; male deaths were spread more evenly across age groups.Oleander and evenly across age groups.Oleander and paraquat caused 74% of deathsin people paraquat caused 74% of deathsin people under 25 years old; thereafter organophosphorous pesticides caused organophosphorous pesticides caused many deaths. Although the age pattern of many deaths. Although the age pattern of self-poisoning was similar to that of self-poisoning was similar to that of industrialised countries, case fatality was industrialised countries, case fatality was more than15 times higher and the pattern more than15 times higher and the pattern of fatal self-poisoning different. of fatal self-poisoning different.