Singhapathirana Suranga, Mayurathan Pakkiyaretnam
Department of Medicine, Batticaloa Teaching Hospital, Batticaloa, LKA.
University Medical Unit, Batticaloa Teaching Hospital, Batticaloa, LKA.
Cureus. 2024 Nov 19;16(11):e73971. doi: 10.7759/cureus.73971. eCollection 2024 Nov.
Deliberate self-harm (DSH) by poisoning is a significant public health concern worldwide. This study aimed to analyze the demographic, socioeconomic, and psychological factors contributing to self-harm by poisoning in patients admitted to a tertiary care hospital in Sri Lanka.
A cross-sectional study was conducted on 101 patients admitted to the hospital for poisoning-related self-harm. Data was collected through a structured questionnaire. Variables such as age, gender, educational background, employment status, income levels, substance abuse history, type of poisons used, sources of knowledge about self-harm methods, immediate stressors, and other few possible factors were analyzed.
The majority of patients, 55 (54.5%), were between the ages of 18 and 29. Fifty-five women (54.5%) slightly outnumbered 46 men (45.5%). More than half of the included patients had an educational background of up to ordinary level exam, while 58 were unemployed (57.4%), including dependents. Lower income levels were associated with higher rates of self-harm. Substance abuse, particularly alcohol, was prevalent in 34 (33.7%) of cases. The most commonly used poison was yellow oleander, reported in 38 (37.6%) of cases. The study also found that a majority, 53 (52.5%), learned about self-harm methods through community engagement. Immediate stressors, including arguments with parents, 29 (28.7%), and conflicts with spouses, 19 (18.8%), were significant triggers. Most patients, 76 (75.2%), were admitted to the hospital within six hours of poisoning. Half of the patients, 50 (50%), reported that immediate stressors directly related to the COVID-19 pandemic significantly influenced their decision to self-harm. Regarding patient outcomes, the study found that nearly all patients, 100 (99%), were successfully discharged from the hospital after treatment.
This study provides valuable insights into the factors contributing to DSH by poisoning in a Sri Lankan context. Targeted interventions addressing the identified risk factors, along with broader public health strategies, are essential to reduce the incidence of self-harm.
中毒所致蓄意自伤是全球重大的公共卫生问题。本研究旨在分析斯里兰卡一家三级护理医院收治的中毒自伤患者的人口统计学、社会经济和心理因素。
对101名因中毒相关自伤入院的患者进行了横断面研究。通过结构化问卷收集数据。分析了年龄、性别、教育背景、就业状况、收入水平、药物滥用史、所使用毒物类型、自伤方法的知识来源、近期应激源以及其他一些可能因素等变量。
大多数患者（55例，占54.5%）年龄在18至29岁之间。女性55例（占54.5%）略多于男性46例（占45.5%）。超过一半的纳入患者教育背景为普通水平考试及以下，58人失业（占57.4%），包括受抚养者。低收入水平与较高的自伤率相关。药物滥用，尤其是酒精滥用，在34例（占33.7%）病例中较为普遍。最常用的毒物是黄花夹竹桃，38例（占37.6%）病例报告使用了该毒物。研究还发现，大多数患者（53例，占52.5%）通过社区接触了解到自伤方法。近期应激源，包括与父母争吵（29例，占28.7%）和与配偶冲突（19例，占18.8%）是重要诱因。大多数患者（76例，占75.2%）在中毒后6小时内入院。一半患者（50例，占50%）报告与2019冠状病毒病大流行直接相关的近期应激源显著影响了他们的自伤决定。关于患者结局，研究发现几乎所有患者（100例，占99%）在治疗后成功出院。
本研究为斯里兰卡中毒所致蓄意自伤的相关因素提供了有价值的见解。针对已确定的风险因素采取有针对性的干预措施以及更广泛的公共卫生策略对于降低自伤发生率至关重要。
