ABSTRACT
The increasing prevalence of suicidal behaviour especially among adolescents is an important public health problem. With the increasing adverse global economic conditions and HIV/AIDS prevalence, especially in developing world, the problem of suicidal behaviours is expected to get worse, and the impact on the healthcare systems will increase.
Objective: This study was done to evaluate the socio-demographic and clinical profile of the patients who were admitted into Leratong Hospital for suicidal behaviours, and the factors associated with these suicidal behaviours. In the context of worsening social and economic problems, and the increasing HIV/AIDS epidemic, it is hoped that the results of this study will help in quantifying needs, defining appropriate management protocols and referral systems, and informing capacity building processes.
Methods: This was a descriptive cross-sectional study. All patients admitted to the medical wards for parasuicides and attempted suicide from November 2007 to February 2008 (n=162) were interviewed during the course of their admission. Data on their socio-demographic characteristics, history of previous suicide ideations and attempts, methods of and reasons for the present suicidal behaviours, and past personal and family histories of the patients were extracted and analyzed.
Results: Patients admitted for suicidal behaviours constituted about 5% of all medical patients. More than 67% of the patients were younger than 30 years, and more than 60% were females. Only about 16% of the patients were married, and about 45% were unemployed, and among those employed about 40% were unskilled, though more than 60% were living in either formal or RDP houses. Majority of the patients (60%) completed only grade 11 or less. Majority of the patients attempted suicide by ingesting overdose of medications (43%) and organophosphates (32%). The commonest reason given by patients for attempting suicide was domestic or relationship conflicts (75%).
About 21% and 14% of the patients had histories of previous suicide ideation and attempt respectively. Common adverse events in the background histories of the patients were stress from their families (56%), unemployment (38%), alcohol abuse (32%), and abandoned by spouse (25%). Common adverse events in the family histories of these patients include at least one death in family in the last two years (70%), alcohol abuse (60%), family member in prison (46%), family member was a victim of crime (46%), and family member had a severe disease (42%). Risk factors found to be significantly associated with suicidal behaviours and the different methods of suicidal attempt include race, sex, younger age group, type of house, and family history of severe illness, death, divorce and substance abuse.
The study has demonstrated the socio-demographic profile of these patients, the burden posed by suicidal behaviours on our health systems, and the risk factors associated with such behaviours. Based on these results, it is therefore recommended that health workers should look out for, and assess all patients for, risk factors associated with suicidal behaviours, and patients admitted for suicidal behaviours should be evaluated and managed properly, with appropriate referrals, before they are discharged.
| Identifer | oai:union.ndltd.org:netd.ac.za/oai:union.ndltd.org:wits/oai:wiredspace.wits.ac.za:10539/6893 |
| Date | 16 April 2009 |
| Creators | Ajaero, Henry Chukwuemeka |
| Source Sets | South African National ETD Portal |
| Language | English |
| Detected Language | English |
| Type | Thesis |
| Format | application/pdf |
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