Epidemiology of Intentional Self-Poisoning in Rural Sri Lanka

The epidemiology of intentional self-poisoning in rural Sri Lanka was examined by prospectively recording 2189 admissions to 2 secondary hospitals. Many patients were young (median age 25 years), male (57%) & used pesticides. Of the 198 who died, 156 were males. Although the age pattern of self-poisoning was similar to that of industrialised countries, case fatality was more than 15 times higher & the pattern of fatal self-poisoning different. (5 refs.)