Abstract
Abstract
Introduction: Deliberate self-poisoning is a major public health problem globally and constitutes a significant proportion of emergency department presentations. The purpose of the study was to determine the clinical profile, management, and outcomes of patients admitted with deliberate self-poisoning to a tertiary public academic center in South Africa.
Methods: A review of the clinical records of medical admissions for deliberate self-poisoning over one year was conducted.
Results: A total of 140 patient records were analysed. The mean age of the group was 25.7 ± 9.4 years of whom 75.6% were females. The majority (96.4%) of patients were unemployed. Pharmaceutical agents were the most common (75%) form of poisoning, taken orally by most (99%). Psycho-social stressors were responsible for deliberate self-poisoning in 49% of the patients. None of the patients had evidence of significant organ dysfunction at admission. Two patients were admitted to the intensive care unit. All patients survived. The median length of stay in the hospital was 5 days (IQR 4–7 days). Treatment consisted of supportive care and, where appropriate, gastric decontamination, administration of antidotes/reversal agents, and referral to psychosocial services.
Conclusion: In this study, a high proportion of the patients were female, unemployed, and single. Psycho-social stressors were the predominant reasons for deliberate self-poisoning and pharmaceutical agents were the main form of poisoning in the majority of cases. Improving the mental health and coping skills of young females could potentially reduce episodes of deliberate self-poisoning among this vulnerable group.