Citation

Gharbaoui M, Ben Khelil M, Harzallah H, Benzarti A, Zhioua M, Hamdoun M. J. Forensic Leg. Med. 2018; 61: 1-4.

Affiliation

Faculty of Medicine, University of Tunis El Manar, Tunis, Tunisia; Department of Legal Medicine, Charles Nicolle Hospital, Tunis, Tunisia.

Copyright

(Copyright © 2018, Elsevier Publishing)

DOI

10.1016/j.jflm.2018.10.004

PMID

30384001

Abstract

OBJECTIVE: The aim of our study was to discuss the epidemiological features of self-poisoning suicide in Northern Tunisia.

METHODS: We conducted a retrospective, descriptive and cross-sectional study, including all the cases of fatal self-poisoning suicide occurring between January 2005 and December 2015.

RESULTS: In the study period, 204 cases of self-poisoning suicide occurred in northern Tunisia, with a prevalence of 0.44 cases/100 000 inhabitants/year. Among these cases, 59% were females (the sex ratio was 0.69). The mean age was 34 ± 15.3 years-old. The most common age group of the victims (28.4%) was between 20 and 29 years old. Victims were unemployed in 45% of cases and single at the time of suicide in 52%. None of the victims left a suicide note. Self-poisonings were due to the ingestion of drugs (52.5%), pesticides (42.6%), caustic products (5.5%) and Butane gas (1 case).

CONCLUSIONS: Fatal casualties of self-poisoning in Tunisia are frequently young, single, unemployed women. This pattern would allow planning of targeted preventive measures.

Copyright © 2018 Elsevier Ltd and Faculty of Forensic and Legal Medicine. All rights reserved.

Language: en

Keywords

Drugs and non-drugs; Epidemiology; Intentional-poisoning; Suicide