Trends in suicide by poisoning in China 2000-2006: age, gender, method, and geography.
OBJECTIVE
This study analyzed patterns of suicide and suicide attempts by poisoning as reported through a national poison control system for the purpose of improving intervention and prevention.


METHODS
During the period of 2000 to 2006, 6440 cases of poisoning suicide were reported to the telephone consultation service system of The National Center for Poisoning Control (Chinese Center for Disease Control and Prevention). Among these records, 4728 cases had completed data for this analysis in terms of age, sex, trend of time and location, and type of poisons.


RESULTS
There were 60.6% female cases with the age from 10 to 90 years old. The age of cases from 20 to 39 years accounted for 54.5% of all age groups. Both the numbers and percentage in record related to poisoning consultation of oral poisoning suicide showed an increasing tendency during the 7 years. In particular, there was a drastic increase from 2004 to 2006. In addition, the high frequency of cases occurred from May to October. Hebei, Shandong, Henan, and Anhui Provinces had the highest number of cases. Pesticide poisonings were the most common method in these cases of consultation for suicide and suicide attempts.


CONCLUSIONS
This study describes epidemiological characteristics in the oral poisoning suicide cases and provides scientific basis for suicide prevention interventions.
Zhang
Xing
X
National Institute for Occupational Health and Poison Control, Chinese Center for Disease Control and Prevention, Beijing 100050, China. xingzh@163.com
Li
Hai-Shan
HS
Zhu
Qiu-Hong
QH
Zhou
Jing
J
Zhang
Shuang
S
Zhang
Lin
L
Sun
Cheng-Ye
CY
D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000367:Age Factors; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D002648:Child; D002681:China / Q000453:epidemiology; D005260:Female; D005843:Geography; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D010575:Pesticides / Q000506:poisoning; D011039:Poison Control Centers / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D011041:Poisoning / Q000453:epidemiology*; D012737:Sex Factors; D013405:Suicide / Q000706:statistics & numerical data / Q000639:trends*; D013406:Suicide, Attempted / Q000706:statistics & numerical data / Q000639:trends*; D055815:Young Adult
D010575:Pesticides