High rates of paraquat-induced suicide in southern Trinidad

The suicide rate in Trinidad and Tobago is much greater than that of its English-speaking Caribbean neighbors. Many of these suicides are paraquat induced. This research reviewed the deaths due to suicide in the area with the greatest agricultural activity in Trinidad for 1996 and identified, for further demographic and etiological investigation, cases in which paraquat was ingested as the agent of suicide. Of 48 cases of suicide for the year, 39 (81.3 percent) were due to paraquat poisoning. The incidence of paraquat-induced suicide was 8.0 per 100,000. Among the males, 47.8 percent were in the age group 25-34 (p< 0.001), and among the females 50.0 percent were in the 15-4 age group (p < 0.05). Family-of-origin disputes were the most frequently cited precipitant, folllowed by marital problems. Individuals of East Indian origin accounted for 89 percent of the suicide victims (p < 0.001). When compared with suicide by other methods in the country, these findings confirm that paraquat poisoning is a significant means of suicide in Trinidad and that young East Indian individuals are particularly vulnerable.(AU)

Paraquat induced suicide in Southern Trinidad

The rate of suicide in Trinidad and Tobago is much greater than in most of its Caribbean neighbours and self poisoning is the most common form of suicidal gesture. Paraquat poisoning in particular has been identified as one of the main agents of completed suicide. We therefore reviewed the deaths due to suicide in 1996 in South Trinidad, which is the area of Trinidad with the greatest agricultural activity, in an attempt to characterize paraquat induced suicide in terms of demographic and aetiological features. Case notes and clinical interviews were reviewed in all deaths due to deliberate self harm for the year 1996 at the General Hospital, San Fernando, Trinidad. There were 48 cases of completed suicide for the year and 39 (81 percent) of these were due to paraquat poisoning, giving an incidence of 8 per 100,000 population. Among the males, 48 percent were in the 25-34 year age group (p<0.001) and among the females 50 percent were in the 15-24 year age group (p<0.05). Family of origin disputes and marital problems were the most cited precipitants (p<0.003). Individuals of East Indian descent accounted for 89 percent of the cases (p<0.001). Psychiatric diagnoses were made in 20 percent of the cases with depression being the most frequently identified condition. While the ingestion of paraquat was often accompanied by heavy alcohol dependence. These findings confirm that paraquat poisoning continues to be a very significant problem and that young East Indian individuals seem particularly likely to attempt suicide by this means.(AU)