Impulsive but fatal self-poisoning with pesticides among South Asians in Nickerie, Suriname.
BACKGROUND
Intentional self-poisoning with pesticides is a serious problem in many developing countries. It is a commonly used method among South Asians all over the world.


OBJECTIVE
To describe the circumstances and characteristics of suicides in Nickerie, e, in order to gain insight into why South Asians commonly use self-poisoning.


METHODS
An exploratory psychological autopsy study was conducted among 19 survivors of 13 suicides in the Nickerie district in Suriname.


RESULTS
Impulsivity plays an important role in self-poisonings, as well as aggression and easy accessibility of pesticides.


CONCLUSIONS
Possible answers to the question why South Asians often use self-poisoning as a method for suicide may be found in culture, upbringing, styles of communication and genetics. However, more research is needed to further explore these hypotheses.
van Spijker
B A J
BA
Department of Clinical Psychology, VU University Amsterdam, The Netherlands.
Graafsma
T
T
Dullaart
H I A
HI
Kerkhof
A J F M
AJ
D000328:Adult; D001210:Asia, Southeastern / Q000208:ethnology; D001237:Asphyxia / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000208:ethnology / Q000523:psychology; D002423:Cause of Death; D003431:Cross-Cultural Comparison; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D003906:Developing Countries; D005006:Ethnicity / Q000523:psychology / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007175:Impulsive Behavior / Q000208:ethnology* / Q000401:mortality* / Q000523:psychology; D008297:Male; D009042:Motivation; D010575:Pesticides / Q000506:poisoning*; D011041:Poisoning / Q000208:ethnology* / Q000401:mortality* / Q000523:psychology; D012737:Sex Factors; D013405:Suicide / Q000208:ethnology* / Q000523:psychology / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D013406:Suicide, Attempted / Q000208:ethnology* / Q000523:psychology / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D013532:Suriname
D010575:Pesticides