Citation

Shamata A, Kaddura M, Elgendy I. Jamahiriya Med. J. 2009; 9(3): 196-200.

Copyright

(Copyright © 2009, Great Socialist People's Libyan Arab Jamahiriya)

DOI

unavailable

PMID

unavailable

Abstract

BACKGROUND: The forensic service in Benghazi Judicial Area (BJA) is run by the Benghazi medicolegal centre. Suicide is a crisis for the individual, the family and the community and the worst manifestation of depression. There is no documented available reliable data about the size of this problem in BJA, Libya.

OBJECTIVE: to study the epidemiological and medicolegal pattern and to identify the risk factors that precipitate suicidal fatalities in BJA.

METHODology: this is a retrospective study of suicidal fatalities in BJA during the period from January 2000 through December 2005. All available records were collected, reviewed and analyzed.

RESULTS: the total reported cases of suspicious deaths in BJA were 4799; suicidal deaths which accounted for 4% (195 cases). Suicidal incidence rate was 3 per 100000 population. The number of suicides peaked in 2001and 2003, 2004. South (39%) and North (33%) Benghazi were the top 2 judicial areas for the highest suicide rate. The majority of suicides (94%) were committed in urban areas, in the spring and the beginning of the week. Male to female ratio was 3:1and most victims were in the age group 21-40 years. The majority of suicide victims were Libyans (86.2%) and employed (34.4%). The most common place of suicide was indoors (45.6%) especially within the victim's home. Most suicide victims (43.6%) were single. Hanging was the most common method of suicide (69.7%). Psychiatric illness was the most common motivation in adult male suicide victims (34.3%). Immediate deaths were recorded in 78.4% and the majority of suicide victims were examined clinically (60.5%).

CONCLUSION: Suicide is considered a health problem in BJA, Libya. To help in the understanding of suicide, we must make our self familiar with it. these results may aid policy makers in dealing with this complex issue.

Language: en

Keywords

adolescent; adult; Fatalities; human; suicide; Suicide; child; female; male; aged; incidence; sex difference; cause of death; hanging; motivation; article; major clinical study; mental disease; victim; seasonal variation; retrospective study; Libyan Arab Jamahiriya