Suicidal poisoning in Alexandria, Egypt-An updated statement

Abstract

DOI: 10.4328/ACAM.20484 Received: 2021-01-14 Accepted: 2021-03-03 Published Online: 2021-03-16 Printed: 2021-08-01 Ann Clin Anal Med 2021;12(8):888-894 Corresponding Author: Heba Abdel Samie Mohamed Hussein, Lecturer of Forensic Medicine and Clinical Toxicology, Faculty of Medicine, Alexandria University, Egypt. E-mail: [email protected] P: 00201002957439 Corresponding Author ORCID ID: https://orcid.org/0000-0002-0022-4640 Abstract Aim: Suicide patterns and sociodemographic descriptions vary widely from country to country and over time. The study presented updated data about magnitude and pattern of suicidal poisoning deaths and attempts in Alexandria, Egypt. Material and Methods: A retrospective descriptive study was performed, by investigating autopsy and criminal laboratory reports of confirmed suicide cases by poisoning, at the Medicolegal Authority Alexandria department, and patients’ admission files at Alexandria Poison Centre (APC), Alexandria University, Egypt from January 2017 to December 2019. Results: Suicidal deaths by self-poisoning accounted for 4.9% of autopsies. There was a significant increase in the annual rate of complete suicide by selfpoisoning (p<0.001); 62.4% of complete suicide cases were between the ages of 10 and 20 years; 67.3% of cases were females; 87.1% were from rural areas, 30.7% of cases were in secondary school; 43.6% of cases were unemployed; 69.3% were single; 96% of suicidal deaths were due to pesticides, 51.5% of them were due to Zinc phosphide. The highest percentage of cases was in spring (36.6%); 7205 cases (34.3%) were attempted suicides admitted to APC, 42% of them were between the ages of 10-20 years, 74% were females and 72.7% were from urban areas. Medications were mostly used for attempting suicide (57.3%), followed by pesticides in 26.9% of cases. The highest percentage of cases was admitted in July (12.8%) then May (10.4%). Discussion: Complete suicide and suicide attempts by self-poisoning in Alexandria, Egypt, were mostly among teenage females. The most common poisons used for attempting suicide were medications in urban regions. However, most of the deaths occurred due to pesticides in rural areas.