TY  - JOUR
PY  - 2018//
TI  - Pattern of suicide by self-poisoning in Northern Tunisia: an eleven-year study (2005-2015)
JO  - Journal of forensic and legal medicine
A1  - Gharbaoui, Meriem
A1  - Ben Khelil, Mehdi
A1  - Harzallah, Hana
A1  - Benzarti, Anis
A1  - Zhioua, Mongi
A1  - Hamdoun, Moncef
SP  - 1
EP  - 4
VL  - 61
IS  - 
N2  - OBJECTIVE: The aim of our study was to discuss the epidemiological features of self-poisoning suicide in Northern Tunisia. <br><br>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. <br><br>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). <br><br>CONCLUSIONS: Fatal casualties of self-poisoning in Tunisia are frequently young, single, unemployed women. This pattern would allow planning of targeted preventive measures.<br><br>Copyright © 2018 Elsevier Ltd and Faculty of Forensic and Legal Medicine. All rights reserved.<p />  <p>Language: en</p>
LA  - en
SN  - 1752-928X
UR  - http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.jflm.2018.10.004
ID  - ref1
ER  -