TY  - JOUR
PY  - 2009//
TI  - Deliberate self-harm prevention in the Sundarbans region need immediate public health attention
JO  - Journal of the Indian Medical Association
A1  - Chowdhury, Arabinda N.
A1  - Brahma, Arabinda
A1  - Banerjee, Smita
A1  - Biswas, M. K.
SP  - 88, 90, 92
EP  - 3
VL  - 107
IS  - 2
N2  - Deliberate self-harm is a major public health problem. This study is aimed to examine the sociodemographic characteristics of both non-fatal and fatal deliberate self-harm cases admitted at the 13 block primary health centres of the Sundarbans region under South 24 Parganas district, West Bengal. Retrospective deliberate self-harm data from the admission registers of 13 block primary health centres was collected for the year 1999. A total of 1850 deliberate self-harm cases (639 males and 1211 females) were admitted at the 13 block primary health centres, of which 159 (60 males, 99 females) were fatal (completed suicide). A higher fatality rate for male than female (9.4% compared to 8.2%) was observed. Women (65.5%), especially of younger age groups constituted the major cases. Poisoning (96.9%) was the commonest method of self-harm. Easy availability of pesticides was a common factor. Marital status and seasonal trend (March-April) had important contribution in self-harm incidents. Planned psychosocial intervention as a part of community mental health programme may help to reduce the deliberate self-harm morbidity and mortality at this primary care level.<p />  <p>Language: en</p>
LA  - en
SN  - 0019-5847
UR  - http://dx.doi.org/
ID  - ref1
ER  -