TY - JOUR
T1 - Epidemiology of intentional self-poisoning in rural Sri Lanka
AU - Eddleston, Michael
AU - Gunnell, David
AU - Karunaratne, Ayanthi
AU - De Silva, Dhammika
AU - Sheriff, M. H.Rezvi
AU - Buckley, Nick A.
PY - 2005/12
Y1 - 2005/12
N2 - We investigated the epidemiology of intentional self-poisoning in rural Sri Lanka by prospectively recording 2189 admissions to two secondary hospitals. Many patients were young (median age 25 years), male (57%) and used pesticides (49%). Of the 198 who died, 156 were men (case fatality 12.4%) and 42 were women (4.5%). Over half of female deaths were in those under 25 years old; male deaths were spread more evenly across age groups. Oleander and paraquat caused 74% of deaths in people under 25 years old; thereafter organophosphorous pesticides caused many deaths. Although the age pattern of self-poisoning was similar to that of industrialised countries, case fatality was more than 15 times higher and the pattern of fatal self-poisoning different.
AB - We investigated the epidemiology of intentional self-poisoning in rural Sri Lanka by prospectively recording 2189 admissions to two secondary hospitals. Many patients were young (median age 25 years), male (57%) and used pesticides (49%). Of the 198 who died, 156 were men (case fatality 12.4%) and 42 were women (4.5%). Over half of female deaths were in those under 25 years old; male deaths were spread more evenly across age groups. Oleander and paraquat caused 74% of deaths in people under 25 years old; thereafter organophosphorous pesticides caused many deaths. Although the age pattern of self-poisoning was similar to that of industrialised countries, case fatality was more than 15 times higher and the pattern of fatal self-poisoning different.
UR - http://www.scopus.com/inward/record.url?scp=28644444186&partnerID=8YFLogxK
U2 - 10.1192/bjp.187.6.583
DO - 10.1192/bjp.187.6.583
M3 - Article
SN - 0007-1250
VL - 187
SP - 583
EP - 584
JO - British Journal of Psychiatry
JF - British Journal of Psychiatry
IS - DEC.
ER -