Brief Reports
Exploration of the association between contact history, socio-cultural factors and acute deliberate self-poisoning in North Central province of Sri Lanka: a case-control study
Authors:
P. H. G. J. Pushpakumara ,
Rajarata University of Sri Lanka, LK
About P. H. G. J.
Department of Family Medicine, Faculty of Medicine and Allied Sciences
W. A. J. C. Chandrakumara,
Rajarata University of Sri Lanka, LK
About W. A. J. C.
Department of Paediatrics, Faculty of Medicine and Allied Sciences
A. C. M. Gunasekara,
University of Colombo, LK
About A. C. M.
Postgraduate Institute of Medicine
S. B. Agampodi
Rajarata University of Sri Lanka, LK
About S. B.
Department of Community Medicine, Faculty of Medicine and Allied Sciences
Abstract
Background
Knowledge of someone else's suicidal behaviour significantly increased the risk of similar acts. Though Sri Lanka has implemented a national policy and an action plan to prevent suicides and attempted suicides, in 1997, the number of deliberate self-harm (DSH) incidents is increasing. We conducted a case-control study to identify the precipitants and to assess the possible impact of a contact history for acute deliberate self-poisoning (DSP) in view of identifying possible interventions.
Materials and Methods
We interviewed two hundred DSP patients, admitted to the medical wards of Teaching Hospital Anuradhapura (THA), during June - August 2004. Patients were randomly selected from a block of two consecutively admitted consenting DSP patients and an interviewer-administered questionnaire was completed. Age and sex-matched patients, who had no history of attempted suicide, admitted to medical wards of THA were interviewed as controls.
Results
Majority of DSP occurred among adolescents and young adults. Conflicts within the family and simple conflicts with someone else were the triggers for the majority (n=123, 61.5%, 95% CI 58.1-64.9%) of DSP. Our study showed that DSP was common among people who had not completed primary education (OR 4.5, 95% CI 2.5-7.9, p<0.0001) and having a history of DSH in an immediate family member or spouse (OR 5.7, 95% CI-2.2-14.7, p<0.0001).
Conclusions
DSP behaviour in rural Sri Lanka seems to be a learned response of vulnerable adolescents and young adults to deal with stressful situations. An in-depth exploration of this finding is needed in order to use it as a key factor in the identification of risk groups for DSP prevention.
How to Cite:
Pushpakumara, P.H.G.J., Chandrakumara, W.A.J.C., Gunasekara, A.C.M. and Agampodi, S.B., 2019. Exploration of the association between contact history, socio-cultural factors and acute deliberate self-poisoning in North Central province of Sri Lanka: a case-control study. Anuradhapura Medical Journal, 13(1), pp.12–17. DOI: http://doi.org/10.4038/amj.v13i1.7660
Published on
30 Dec 2019.
Peer Reviewed
Downloads
