Senyolo Mohale V, Govender Indiran, Bongongo Tombo
Department of Family Medicine and Primary Health Care, School of Medicine, Sefako Makgatho Health Sciences University, Pretoria, South Africa.
J Coll Med S Afr. 2025 Apr 30;3(1):114. doi: 10.4102/jcmsa.v3i1.114. eCollection 2025.
Self-harm, as intentionally hurting oneself, has grown to be a major public health issue in recent years. Such act can be carried out without the deliberate intent to kill oneself. This study aimed to profile self-harming patients admitted to a South African hospital.
A cross-sectional design based on retrospective record review of self-harming patients between June 2022 and May 2023 at Dr George Mukhari Academic Hospital (DGMAH).
Out of 223 records retrieved, the participants' mean age was 24.6 years. Their ages ranged from 13 years to 75 years. The majority were single ( = 198; 89.56%), unemployed ( = 103; 46.19%) and did not have any comorbidities ( = 171; 76.68%). Human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) or acquired immunodeficiency syndrome (AIDS) ( = 19; 8.52%) was the most common comorbidity. Overdose and poisoning ( = 220; 98.65%) are common methods utilised, and with high rate happened in October ( = 39; 17.65%). The most common reasons were interpersonal, including family conflict (69; 30.80%) and relationship issues ( = 61; 27.23%). Age was linked with sex, comorbidities, method and reason ( = 0.008). Conflict was linked with females and relationship problems with males ( = 0.008).
Self-harm is common among single females under 40 years, often because of romantic and family conflicts. Age and sex influence risk, with younger females using over-the-counter medication, older females with retroviral diseases using prescriptions. Further research, including prevention, may assist in the management of the behavior.
An alarming and growing public health risk has been raised.
自我伤害，即故意伤害自己，近年来已成为一个主要的公共卫生问题。这种行为可能在没有蓄意自杀意图的情况下发生。本研究旨在描述入住南非一家医院的自我伤害患者的特征。
采用横断面设计，基于对2022年6月至2023年5月期间在乔治·穆哈里博士学术医院（DGMAH）的自我伤害患者的回顾性记录审查。
在检索到的223份记录中，参与者的平均年龄为24.6岁。年龄范围为13岁至75岁。大多数人单身（n = 198；89.56%）、失业（n = 103；46.19%）且没有任何合并症（n = 171；76.68%）。人类免疫缺陷病毒（HIV）或获得性免疫缺陷综合征（AIDS）（n = 19；8.52%）是最常见的合并症。过量用药和中毒（n = 220；98.65%）是常用的方法，且在10月份发生率较高（n = 39；17.65%）。最常见的原因是人际关系方面的，包括家庭冲突（69例；30.80%）和恋爱问题（n = 61；27.23%）。年龄与性别、合并症、方法和原因相关（p = 0.008）。冲突与女性相关，恋爱问题与男性相关（p = 0.008）。
自我伤害在40岁以下的单身女性中很常见，通常是由于恋爱和家庭冲突。年龄和性别会影响风险，年轻女性使用非处方药，患有逆转录病毒疾病的老年女性使用处方药。进一步的研究，包括预防方面的研究，可能有助于对这种行为的管理。
提出了一个令人担忧且不断增加的公共卫生风险。
