Deliberate self-poisoning: a study from Nablus
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Ansam F. Sawalha
Abstract
Aim: Arab Palestinians have experienced intense political, domestic and economic stressful conditions, which can increase the risk of self-harm. No previous studies haves been published to describe the patterns and rates of deliberate self-harm, particularly self-poisoning, in the Palestinian Authority. The objective of this study was to investigate deliberate self-poisoning in the Palestinian Authority.
Methods: All patients admitted to the emergency department of Al-Watani Governmental Hospital from May 2008 to April 2009 and identified as deliberate self-poisoning were investigated. The demographic and clinical data of the subjects were analyzed using SPSS16.
Results: A total of 54 individuals were identified. The mean age of these patients was 23.8±7.9 years and less than one-third (16; 29.6%) were under 18 years of age. The majority of the patients were female (35; 64.8%). Two-thirds (37; 68.5%) of the patients were Nablus city residents. An overdose of pharmaceutical products (39; 72.2%) was the most common method of self-poisoning. Significant associations were found between the type of material used in self-poisoning and place of residence (p=0.008) as well as gender (p=0.021). Gastric lavage was performed for 23 (42.6%) individuals, while only four (7.4%) received activated charcoal, and six (11.1%) had both.
Conclusion: Rates of deliberate self-poisoning in the Palestinian Authority are lower than those reported from developed countries, but higher than that reported from other Arab countries. Regulations regarding the sale and storage of poisonous agricultural chemicals are needed in the Palestinian Authority.
©2012 by Walter de Gruyter Berlin Boston
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Articles in the same Issue
- Masthead
- Masthead
- Editorial
- Community singing: what does that have to do with health?
- Review Articles
- Internet use, misuse, and addiction in adolescents: current issues and challenges
- Early executive function deficit in preterm children and its association with neurodevelopmental disorders in childhood: a literature review
- Original Articles
- Access to contraception and HIV testing among young women in a peri-urban district of Uganda
- Addressing the needs of adolescent mothers and their offspring in Nigeria: a community-based study
- Parental beliefs and knowledge about male human papillomavirus vaccination in the US: a survey of a pediatric clinic population
- Educating for the future: adolescent girls’ health and education in West Bengal, India
- Knowledge, attitude, and practice of cervical cancer screening among Greek students: a short report
- Environment factors associated with adolescents’ body mass index, physical activity and physical fitness in Kuching South City, Sarawak: a cross-sectional study
- Reading increases ocular illuminance during light treatment
- Sex-related perceptions associated with sexual activity status among Japanese adolescents who heavily use text messaging
- If I value myself, I value school: The protective effect of self-esteem among abused females
- The poverty puzzle: the surprising difference between wealthy and poor students for self-efficacy and academic achievement
- Exploring resilience: strengths of trafficking survivors in Cambodia
- Deliberate self-poisoning: a study from Nablus
