title: Deliberate self-poisoning in Oman.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To describe the demographics, precipitating factors, substances and methods used for deliberate self-harm in Oman.
  
  
  METHODS
  Data were extracted from the Accident and Emergency (A & E) records of patients treated at the A & E units in Muscat from 1993 to 1998. Data were obtained form the history, and clinical findings resulting form deliberate self-harm.
  
  
  RESULTS
  During the 5-year study period, 123 persons presented to various hospitals in the Muscat area with injuries that resulted form deliberate self-harm. Most of these cases were women, students and unemployed. There was a high incidence of family, marital and psychiatric or social problems. The methods of self-harm were most often analgesics (such as paracetamol) and non-pharmaceutical chemicals.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The rate of self-injurious behaviour is low in Oman, compared with other countries, including other Islamic countries. The data illustrate a rising rate and a tendency to ingest toxic doses of analgesics or non-pharmaceutical chemicals.
authors.affiliation: Department of Behavioural Medicine, College of Medicine, Sultan Qaboos University, Muscat, Oman.
authors.forename: Ziad A J
authors.initials: ZA
authors.lastname: Zaidan
authors.forename: David T
authors.initials: DT
authors.lastname: Burke
authors.forename: Atsu S S
authors.initials: AS
authors.lastname: Dorvlo
authors.forename: Aziz
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Al-Naamani
authors.forename: Abdullah
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Al-Suleimani
authors.forename: Ala'Adin
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Al-Hussaini
authors.forename: Marwan M
authors.initials: MM
authors.lastname: Al-Sharbati
authors.forename: Samir
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Al-Adawi
mesh_terms: D000069:Acculturation; D000328:Adult; D004522:Educational Status; D004636:Emergency Service, Hospital; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D015994:Incidence; D008297:Male; D017533:Marital Status; D008499:Medical Records; D009850:Oman / Q000453:epidemiology; D011041:Poisoning / Q000453:epidemiology*; D017678:Sex Distribution; D014478:Unemployment