Prevalence of self-poisoning among patients referred and admitted to hospitals in Tonekabon and Ramsar from ۲۰۰۵ to ۲۰۱۵

According to studies conducted in different countries, the establishment of a poison control center has been successful in the reduction of mortality, length of hospital stay, and medical costs, as well as the provision of educational and research opportunities to extend the knowledge of emergency medical care. With this background in mind, a poison control center is urgently needed in the West of Mazandaran given the high population density of nearly ۵۰۰,۰۰۰ inhabitants in that region. In an attempt to investigate the necessity of establishing a poisoning center in the West of Mazandaran, this cross-sectional observational study was conducted to describe and analyze the prevalence of self-poisoning among patients referred and admitted to hospitals in Tonekabon and Ramsar within ۲۰۰۵-۲۰۱۵. Data were analyzed in SPSS software version ۲۰. The present study was performed on ۷۲۴۰ subjects, out of whom ۴۲.۳% were male and ۵۷.۷% were female. The mean of suicide attempts differed significantly between males and females (P<۰.۰۵). The highest prevalence was reported as ۳۴.۴% in the age range of ۲۰-۲۹ years. In addition, ۵۸.۴۵% of patients were single. Moreover, most suicides were attempted by people without a high school diploma (۴۷.۱%), and the lowest rate of suicide attempts was related to those with postgraduate and higher education. In addition, most of the suicide attempts were attributed to the unemployed (۳۲.۵%), housewives occupied the second place with ۲۱%, and the lowest rate was observed in the retired (۰.۶%). According to the results of the current study which are indicative of the high prevalence of suicide attempts by self-poisoning as well as the findings of studies conducted around the world, a poisoning center needs to be established in the west of Mazandaran due to high population density (۵۰۰,۰۰۰) in this region.

Keywords:

Poisoning , Suicide , Ramsar , Mazandaran