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Deliberate self‐poisoning in Oman
Author(s) -
Zaidan Ziad A. J.,
Burke David T.,
Dorvlo Atsu S. S.,
AlNaamani Aziz,
AlSuleimani Abdullah,
AlHussaini Ala'Adin,
AlSharbati Marwan M.,
AlAdawi Samir
Publication year - 2002
Publication title -
tropical medicine and international health
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.056
H-Index - 114
eISSN - 1365-3156
pISSN - 1360-2276
DOI - 10.1046/j.1365-3156.2002.00887.x
Subject(s) - medicine , demographics , harm , marital status , suicide prevention , poison control , injury prevention , medical emergency , psychiatry , environmental health , demography , population , psychology , social psychology , sociology
OBJECTIVE To describe the demographics, precipitating factors, substances and methods used for deliberate self‐harm in Oman. METHODS Data were extracted from the Accident and Emergency (A & E) records of patients treated at the A & E units in Muscat from 1993 to 1998. Data were obtained form the history, and clinical findings resulting form deliberate self‐harm. RESULTS During the 5‐year study period, 123 persons presented to various hospitals in the Muscat area with injuries that resulted form deliberate self‐harm. Most of these cases were women, students and unemployed. There was a high incidence of family, marital and psychiatric or social problems. The methods of self‐harm were most often analgesics (such as paracetamol) and non‐pharmaceutical chemicals. CONCLUSIONS The rate of self‐injurious behaviour is low in Oman, compared with other countries, including other Islamic countries. The data illustrate a rising rate and a tendency to ingest toxic doses of analgesics or non‐pharmaceutical chemicals.