Indian Journal of Forensic Medicine & Toxicology

Open Access Open Access  Restricted Access Subscription Access
Open Access Open Access Open Access  Restricted Access Restricted Access Subscription Access

Trends of Suicidal Poisoning in Ahmadabad - A Retrospective Study


Affiliations
1 Department of Forensic Medicine & Toxicology, AMC MET Medical College, Ahmadabad, India
2 Department of Forensic Medicine & Toxicology Smt. NHL Municipal Medical College, Ahmadabad, India
     

   Subscribe/Renew Journal


The suicide rate in India is 10.3. In the last three decades, the suicide rate has increased by 43% but the male female ratio has been stable at 1.4: 1. Majority (71%) of suicide in India are by persons below the age of 44 years which imposes a huge social, emotional and economic burden. Several studies reveal that suicidal behaviours are much more prevalent than what is officially reported. (1) Poisoning, hanging and self immolation (particularly women) were the methods to commit suicide. Physical and mental illness, disturbed interpersonal relationships and economic difficulties were the major reasons for suicide. The vulnerable population was found to be women, students, farmers etc. A social and public health response in addition to a mental health response is crucial to prevent suicidal behaviour in India. The present study was undertaken in the department of Forensic Medicine & Toxicology of smt NHL MMC at Ahmadabad (Gujarat) to know the pattern of Suicidal poisoning. Total 130 cases of death due to Suicidal poisoning were selected for this Retrospective study, which were brought to us for postmortem examination during the span of two year (From May 2007 to April 2009). Our study revealed that most of the victims of fatal poisoning were Hindus, married males of middle socioeconomic status who died due to self ingestion of some poison.

Keywords

Autopsy, Suicide, Poisoning, Toxic Substances
Subscription Login to verify subscription
User
Notifications
Font Size


  • Lakshmi Vijaykumar : Indian Research on suicide. Indian journal Psychiatry

  • Reddy : The essentials of forensic medicine and Toxicology : 27th, 2008.

  • Nandy: Principle of Forensic Medicine.

  • WHO : environmental health criteria 2010

  • V.V. Pillay : Textbook of Forensic medicine and Toxicology 15th edition, 2009.

  • Vanderhoek w , Konradsen F Athukorala K Wanigadewa T : Pesticide Poisoning – a major health problem in srilanka , soc sci med 1998 ,46 495- 504

  • Eddleston m sheriff MHR & Hawton K : deliberate self harm in srilanka – an over looked tragedy in the developing world br med j 1998, 317 133- 135

  • Sinitox revaso de estastica de 1997. Available on http;//www. Fiocruz.br

  • De silva p .The logic of attempted suicide and its linkage with human emotion – suicide in srilanka kandy institute of fundamental studies 1989 1, 25-40

  • Patnaik and Mathiharan : Modi’s Medical Juriprudence and Toxicology 23rd edition.

  • N.K. Aggarwal, B.B.L. Aggarwal : Trends of poisoning in Delhi : JIAFM, 1998 vol.20, No.2, 32-36.

  • Vankoba Rao : Attempted suicide. Ind. J. Psy. 7(4): 253-264, 1965.

  • Zariwala RC, Mehta T.J., Merchant S.P., Trends of poisoning in Ahmadabad city. Journal of Indian Academy of Forensic Medicine, vol.2 (2009-Apr-July)

  • H.S.Meena, O.P. Murty, J.P. Wali (1994) : Aluminium Phosphide poisoning. Journal of Forensic Medicine and Toxicology vol.XI No.3 and 4, July- Dec. 1994: 19

  • Tandon S.K.; Qureshi G.U.; Pandey D.N.; Aggarwal A : A profile of poisoning cases admitted in S.N. Medical College and Hospital, Agra, Journal Forensic Medicine and Toxicology 1996, XIII. 10-12.

  • Morgan H.G., Pocock H., Pottes : The urban distribution of non fatal deliberate self harm Br. J. Psych. 126: 319-328, 1975a.

  • Reddy KSN, Gunnar DG, Mokka Prakash, study of op. poisoning cases in Gulberga Indian Journal of Forensic Medicine and Toxicology, 2006, vol.2

  • Vinay Shetty, Gurudutta, S. Pawar Profile of poisoning cases in district and Medical College Hospital of North Karnataka. Indian Journal of Forensic Medicine and Toxicology, vol.2, No.2 (2008).

  • PR Shukla, A study of suicide in Varanasi. Indian journal of preventive and social medicine 2001 (JM Dec. 30)

  • Sinha US, Kapoor AK, Agnihotri AK, Shrivastava PC : A profile of poisoning cases admitted in SRN Hospital, Allahabad with special reference to Aluminium Phosphide poisoning : JFMT vol.16.no.1 Jan to June 1999, 40-43 (Journal of forensic medicine and toxicology).

  • Sharma SK : Current scenario of poisoning in rural India : proceedings of the workshop on practical and emergency medical toxicology; 1998 Feb. 24- 26, New Delhi.AIIMS 19-24.

  • Saxena S. et al : Stressful life events in psychi. Out patients - a controlled study. Ind. J. Psych. 25: 129 - 133, 1983.

  • Chavan KD, Kachare RV, Golisk: Study of suicidal death in rural region of beed district of Maharashtra. : International Journal of Medical Toxicology and Legal Medicine, vol.1, No: 2, Jan - June 1999.

  • Dewan A, Role and Relevance of Poison information centres in India, ICMR Bulletin, May 1997, 25 (5): 43-46.


Abstract Views: 337

PDF Views: 0




  • Trends of Suicidal Poisoning in Ahmadabad - A Retrospective Study

Abstract Views: 337  |  PDF Views: 0

Authors

Kartik Prajapati
Department of Forensic Medicine & Toxicology, AMC MET Medical College, Ahmadabad, India
Saumil P. Merchant
Department of Forensic Medicine & Toxicology, AMC MET Medical College, Ahmadabad, India
Pratik R. Patel
Department of Forensic Medicine & Toxicology Smt. NHL Municipal Medical College, Ahmadabad, India

Abstract


The suicide rate in India is 10.3. In the last three decades, the suicide rate has increased by 43% but the male female ratio has been stable at 1.4: 1. Majority (71%) of suicide in India are by persons below the age of 44 years which imposes a huge social, emotional and economic burden. Several studies reveal that suicidal behaviours are much more prevalent than what is officially reported. (1) Poisoning, hanging and self immolation (particularly women) were the methods to commit suicide. Physical and mental illness, disturbed interpersonal relationships and economic difficulties were the major reasons for suicide. The vulnerable population was found to be women, students, farmers etc. A social and public health response in addition to a mental health response is crucial to prevent suicidal behaviour in India. The present study was undertaken in the department of Forensic Medicine & Toxicology of smt NHL MMC at Ahmadabad (Gujarat) to know the pattern of Suicidal poisoning. Total 130 cases of death due to Suicidal poisoning were selected for this Retrospective study, which were brought to us for postmortem examination during the span of two year (From May 2007 to April 2009). Our study revealed that most of the victims of fatal poisoning were Hindus, married males of middle socioeconomic status who died due to self ingestion of some poison.

Keywords


Autopsy, Suicide, Poisoning, Toxic Substances

References