RESUMO
An epidemiology study of poisoning was done in a geographically defined area in rural Sri Lanka, a developing agricultural country. The incidence of poisoning was 75 per 100,000 population and the death rate was very high (22 per 100,000 population). Both were highest in the age group 15-34 and there were significant ethnic differences in the incidence of poisoning. Agrochemicals were responsible for 59% of all poisonings. Paraquat was the commonest poisoning agent with a high fatality rate of 68%. Use of highly toxic agents may have resulted in deaths where there was no intention to commit suicide. Strict legislation regarding the sale, distribution and storage of agrochemicals could result in the reduction of mortality and perhaps the incidence of poisoning, in developing agricultural countries.
Assuntos
Intoxicação/epidemiologia , Saúde da População Rural , Adolescente , Adulto , Fatores Etários , Feminino , Humanos , Masculino , Intoxicação/mortalidade , Estações do Ano , Fatores Sexuais , Sri LankaAssuntos
Suicídio/epidemiologia , Adolescente , Adulto , Idoso , Feminino , Humanos , Masculino , Pessoa de Meia-Idade , Estudos Retrospectivos , Sri Lanka , Suicídio/psicologiaRESUMO
Sri Lanka is a developing agricultural country with a high fatality rate due to self-poisoning with very toxic agrochemicals as the main poisoning agents. A prospective study of 97 consecutive admissions following self-poisoning reveals that easy availability of the agrochemicals together with the lack of knowledge regarding their lethality were the main causative factors determining the choice of poisoning agents. Developing community awareness of the lethality of these substances, educating the farmers with regards to proper storage and disposal of agrochemicals together with stricter legislation regarding their sale and distribution may reduce the incidence of self-poisoning due to these agents with a consequent reduction in mortality due to self-poisoning.