Self-harm and self-poisoning in southern India: choice of poisoning agents and treatment.
OBJECTIVE
To record cases of suicide and attempted suicide among a population of 108 000 people living in a primarily rural area of southern India, with the aim of guiding policies and strategies to restrict access to poisonous compounds at community level.


METHODS
Community-based surveillance over a period of 2 years.


CONCLUSIONS
The overall suicide rate was 71.4 per 100 000 population; the highest burden was among men. Most people died through hanging (81, 54%) and self-poisoning (46, 31%). Of the 46 who died from self-poisoning, 78.3% had taken pesticides and 19.7% had eaten poisonous plants. Eighty per cent of the self-poisoning cases obtained the poisonous substance in or in close proximity to the home, highlighting the importance of safe storage in the domestic environment. Of the 110 fatal and non-fatal self-poisoning cases, 87 (57.5%) were taken for treatment; 50 (57.4%) went to government hospitals and 37 (42.5%) to private facilities. This indicates the importance of including the private sector in the efforts to improve case management. Furthermore, the fact that 31 (67%) of the self-poisoning patients, who eventually died, were alive after 4 h provides an incentive to focus on improved case management and access to health services.
Bose
Anuradha
A
Department of Community Health, Christian Medical College, Vellore, India. abose@cmcvellore.ac.in
Sandal Sejbaek
Camilla
C
Suganthy
Pearline
P
Raghava
Venkata
V
Alex
Reginald
R
Muliyil
Jayaprakash
J
Konradsen
Flemming
F
D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007194:India / Q000453:epidemiology; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D010575:Pesticides / Q000506:poisoning*; D055553:Prescription Drugs / Q000506:poisoning*; D012423:Rural Health / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D013405:Suicide / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D013406:Suicide, Attempted / Q000517:prevention & control / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires; D013997:Time Factors; D055815:Young Adult; D000092864:Suicide Prevention
D010575:Pesticides; D055553:Prescription Drugs