Self-Poisoning in Rural Sri Lanka: Small-Area Variations in Incidence

This study investigated small-area variation in self-poisoning incidence in Sri Lanka & its association with area-based socioeconomic & agricultural factors. The overall incidence of intentional self-poisoning in the study area in 2002 was 315 per 100,000. Socioeconomic disadvantage, as indexed by poor housing quality & low levels of education but not unemployment, was associated with a low self-poisoning incidence. Areas where a high proportion of the population worked in agriculture had low overall levels of self-poisoning but a greater proportion of episodes in these areas involved pesticides. An association with extent of cultivated land was found only for non-pesticide poisoning. (21 refs.)