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Risk factors for acute pesticide poisoning in Sri Lanka
Author(s) -
Van Der Hoek Wim,
Konradsen Flemming
Publication year - 2005
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 - 10.1111/j.1365-3156.2005.01416.x
Subject(s) - medicine , sri lanka , environmental health , case fatality rate , psychological intervention , poison control , injury prevention , suicide prevention , pesticide , rural area , occupational safety and health , population , psychiatry , geography , biology , pathology , agronomy , tanzania , environmental planning
Summary This report describes the characteristics of patients with acute pesticide poisoning in a rural area of Sri Lanka and, for intentional self‐poisoning cases, explores the relative importance of the different determinants. Data were collected for 239 acute pesticide‐poisoning cases, which were admitted to two rural hospitals in Sri Lanka. Sociodemographic characteristics, negative life events and agricultural practices of the intentional self‐poisoning cases were compared with a control group. Most cases occurred among young adults and the large majority (84%) was because of intentional self‐poisoning. Case fatality was 18% with extremely high case fatality for poisoning with the insecticide endosulfan and the herbicide paraquat. Cases were generally younger than controls, of lower educational status and were more often unemployed. No agricultural risk factors were found but a family history of pesticide poisoning and having ended an emotional relationship in the past year was clearly associated with intentional self‐poisoning. The presence of mental disorders could only be assessed for a subsample of the cases and controls and this showed that alcohol dependence was a risk factor. This study shows that acute pesticide poisoning in Sri Lanka is determined by a combination of sociodemographic and psychological factors. Suggestions are given for interventions that could control the morbidity and mortality due to acute pesticide poisoning in developing countries.