Citation

Hanna MM, El-Shereef EAA, Griew AH. Egypt. J. Forensic Sci. 2011; 1(3-4): 124-132.

Copyright

(Copyright © 2011, Forensic Medicine Authority of Egypt, Publisher Elsevier Publishing)

DOI

10.1016/j.ejfs.2011.08.003

PMID

unavailable

Abstract

Suicide is no longer a criminal offense in any developed country but continues to be so in many developing countries. The aim was to assess the pattern and outcome of the methods used among the suicidal attempted cases and its medico-legal aspect to some demographical variables. Retrospective review of Benghazi hospitals' record of all cases admitted as a result of suicide attempted through 2008 was carried out. The result showed that male to female ratio was 1:1.75. Mean age of the cases was 26.11 ± 10.10 years. Students represented peak of cases among females and private sector workers among males. Unemployed males represented 26.5%, females 0.5%. Sex difference was statistically significant. 60.8% of females were single as compared to 40.2% males. Drug overdose (75.7%) was the most common pattern of suicidal method used among the cases followed by wrist cutting (8.7%), hanging (7.3%), jumping from height (3.1%), chemical poisoning (3.1%) and burning (2.1%). Hanging was the second method among males (20.6%), no hanging reported among females. Burning committed only by females and constituted 3.2% among them. The difference in methods of suicides between sexes was statistically significant. 35.3% of males as compared to only 5.4% of females dead. The outcome revealed that 100% of hanging dead, jumping from height 77.8%, burn 66.7%. Then cutting wrist 40%, the least rate was found among chemical ingestion 11.1% and drug overdose 1.4%. In conclusion, the suicidal methods depend on sex. Although the suicidal attempted was more common in females than males, the outcome of dead was higher among males.