Methods of deliberate self-harm in a tertiary hospital in South Africa.
deliberate self-harm
general hospital
means restriction
mental health
methods of self-harm
non-fatal suicide
suicide prevention
Journal
The South African journal of psychiatry : SAJP : the journal of the Society of Psychiatrists of South Africa
ISSN: 1608-9685
Titre abrégé: S Afr J Psychiatr
Pays: South Africa
ID NLM: 100958626
Informations de publication
Date de publication:
2020
2020
Historique:
received:
15
04
2019
accepted:
20
01
2020
entrez:
12
5
2020
pubmed:
12
5
2020
medline:
12
5
2020
Statut:
epublish
Résumé
Little is known about the methods of deliberate self-harm (DSH) in South Africa (SA), despite the importance of means restriction as a public health strategy to reduce the morbidity and mortality associated with self-harm. The aim of this study was to investigate the range of methods used in DSH and identify the socio-demographic and clinical factors associated with violent and non-violent methods of DSH among patients treated at a tertiary hospital in SA. The study was conducted at an urban, tertiary level emergency department at Groote Schuur hospital in Cape Town, South Africa. Data were collected from 238 consecutive DSH patients who presented for emergency department treatment at the hospital. Logistic regression models were used to explore the factors associated with violent and non-violent methods of DSH. Self-poisoning was the most common method of self-harm (80.3%). Prescription medication was the most common form of self-poison (57.6%), while a large number of patients used non-prescription paracetamol (40.9%). In the regression analysis, male gender, stating that the reason for DSH was to escape a situation and history of substance use were associated with violent method of DSH. Improved monitoring of prescription medications commonly used in DSH is integral to public health suicide prevention strategies in SA. This study underscores the need for substance use interventions in the healthcare setting.
Sections du résumé
BACKGROUND
BACKGROUND
Little is known about the methods of deliberate self-harm (DSH) in South Africa (SA), despite the importance of means restriction as a public health strategy to reduce the morbidity and mortality associated with self-harm.
AIM
OBJECTIVE
The aim of this study was to investigate the range of methods used in DSH and identify the socio-demographic and clinical factors associated with violent and non-violent methods of DSH among patients treated at a tertiary hospital in SA.
SETTING
METHODS
The study was conducted at an urban, tertiary level emergency department at Groote Schuur hospital in Cape Town, South Africa.
METHOD
METHODS
Data were collected from 238 consecutive DSH patients who presented for emergency department treatment at the hospital. Logistic regression models were used to explore the factors associated with violent and non-violent methods of DSH.
RESULTS
RESULTS
Self-poisoning was the most common method of self-harm (80.3%). Prescription medication was the most common form of self-poison (57.6%), while a large number of patients used non-prescription paracetamol (40.9%). In the regression analysis, male gender, stating that the reason for DSH was to escape a situation and history of substance use were associated with violent method of DSH.
CONCLUSION
CONCLUSIONS
Improved monitoring of prescription medications commonly used in DSH is integral to public health suicide prevention strategies in SA. This study underscores the need for substance use interventions in the healthcare setting.
Identifiants
pubmed: 32391183
doi: 10.4102/sajpsychiatry.v26i0.1399
pii: SAJPsyc-26-1399
pmc: PMC7203532
doi:
Types de publication
Journal Article
Langues
eng
Pagination
1399Informations de copyright
© 2020. The Authors.
Déclaration de conflit d'intérêts
The authors declare that there are no conflicts of interest with regard to the writing of this article.
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