Attempted Suicides in a Primary Care Setting
Abstract
Aim:
To describe the profile of patients who attempted to commit suicide in a primary care setting.
Study design:
A descriptive survey of patients who attempted suicide
Setting:
Casualty department of a district hospital in PretoriaWest. Main outcome variables: Age, sex. methods used, reason for
attempt and previous attempts.
Results:
This study included 313 patients of which 208 were females and 105 males. Of these patients 257 (82%) were less than 4l years of age and 289 (92%) were white. Previous suicide attempts were acknowledged by 25% of patients and 30,7% took benzodiazepines in overdose. No fatalities were recorded and l8 (5,8%) patients were transferred to other hospitals for intensive medical care. Marital, famit or relationship problems were indicated by 184 (72,4%) patients as the reason for the attempt.
Conclusion:
In the Pretoria West area suicidal attempts are common. Marital and domestic problems are the main reasons for attempting suicide.
To describe the profile of patients who attempted to commit suicide in a primary care setting.
Study design:
A descriptive survey of patients who attempted suicide
Setting:
Casualty department of a district hospital in PretoriaWest. Main outcome variables: Age, sex. methods used, reason for
attempt and previous attempts.
Results:
This study included 313 patients of which 208 were females and 105 males. Of these patients 257 (82%) were less than 4l years of age and 289 (92%) were white. Previous suicide attempts were acknowledged by 25% of patients and 30,7% took benzodiazepines in overdose. No fatalities were recorded and l8 (5,8%) patients were transferred to other hospitals for intensive medical care. Marital, famit or relationship problems were indicated by 184 (72,4%) patients as the reason for the attempt.
Conclusion:
In the Pretoria West area suicidal attempts are common. Marital and domestic problems are the main reasons for attempting suicide.