BACKGROUND: Although intentional self-poisoning is a major public health problem in rural parts of the Asia-Pacific region, relatively little is known of its epidemiology. We aimed to determine why Sri Lankan self-poisoning patients choose particular poisons, and whether acts of self-harm with highly dangerous poisons were associated with more premeditation and effort. METHODS: We interviewed 268 self-poisoning patients presenting to two district general hospitals in rural Sri Lanka. RESULTS: Eighty-five percent of patients cited easy availability as the basis for their choice of poison. There was little premeditation: more than 50% ingested the poison less than 30 minutes after deciding to self-harm. Patients had little knowledge about treatment options or lethality of the poison chosen. We found no difference in reasons for choice of poison between people ingesting different poisons, despite marked differences in toxicity, and between people who died and those who survived. CONCLUSIONS: Poisons were chosen on the basis of availability, often at short notice. There was no evidence that people using highly toxic poisons made a more serious or premeditated attempt. Restrictions on availability of highly toxic poisons in rural communities must be considered in strategies to reduce the number of intentional self-poisoning deaths in the Asia Pacific region.
BACKGROUND: Although intentional self-poisoning is a major public health problem in rural parts of the Asia-Pacific region, relatively little is known of its epidemiology. We aimed to determine why Sri Lankan self-poisoningpatients choose particular poisons, and whether acts of self-harm with highly dangerous poisons were associated with more premeditation and effort. METHODS: We interviewed 268 self-poisoningpatients presenting to two district general hospitals in rural Sri Lanka. RESULTS: Eighty-five percent of patients cited easy availability as the basis for their choice of poison. There was little premeditation: more than 50% ingested the poison less than 30 minutes after deciding to self-harm. Patients had little knowledge about treatment options or lethality of the poison chosen. We found no difference in reasons for choice of poison between people ingesting different poisons, despite marked differences in toxicity, and between people who died and those who survived. CONCLUSIONS: Poisons were chosen on the basis of availability, often at short notice. There was no evidence that people using highly toxic poisons made a more serious or premeditated attempt. Restrictions on availability of highly toxic poisons in rural communities must be considered in strategies to reduce the number of intentional self-poisoning deaths in the Asia Pacific region.
Authors: Michael Eddleston; Lalith Senarathna; Fahim Mohamed; Nick Buckley; Edmund Juszczak; M H Rezvi Sheriff; Ariaranee Ariaratnam; Senaka Rajapakse; David Warrell; K Rajakanthan Journal: Lancet Date: 2003-09-27 Impact factor: 79.321
Authors: Andrew H Dawson; Michael Eddleston; Lalith Senarathna; Fahim Mohamed; Indika Gawarammana; Steven J Bowe; Gamini Manuweera; Nicholas A Buckley Journal: PLoS Med Date: 2010-10-26 Impact factor: 11.069
Authors: Won Jin Lee; Eun Shil Cha; Eun Sook Park; Kyoung Ae Kong; Jun Hyeok Yi; Mia Son Journal: Int Arch Occup Environ Health Date: 2008-07-04 Impact factor: 3.015
Authors: Lalith Senarathna; Shaluka F Jayamanna; Patrick J Kelly; Nick A Buckley; Michael J Dibley; Andrew H Dawson Journal: BMC Public Health Date: 2012-08-02 Impact factor: 3.295