Pattern and Trend of Deliberate Self-Harm in Western Nepal

• NCJ Number: 226913
• Journal: Journal of Forensic Sciences Volume: 54 Issue: 3 Dated: May 2009 Pages: 704-707
• Author(s): Sonu H. Subba M.B.B.S., M.D.; Valsalakumari S. Binu M.Sc.; Ritesh G. Menezes M.B.B.S., M.D.; Tanuj Kanchan M.B.B.S., M.D.; Mohanram ArunM.B.B.S., M.D.; Rajkumar Patil M.D.D.S., M.D.; Sadip Pant M.D.D.S.; Archana Saha M.D.D.S., M.D.; Asis De M.D.D.S., M.D.; Manu S. Rana M.P.H.
• Date Published: May 2009
• Length: 4 pages
• Publication Format: Article
• Publication Type: Report (Study/Research)
• Language: English
• Country: United States of America

Annotation

This study examined the features of 173 cases of deliberate self-harm (parasuicide and suicide) reported from April 2002 to March 2005 on the medicolegal register maintained by the Emergency Department of the Western Regional Hospital in the Western Development Region of Nepal.

Abstract

The study found an increase in the number of cases of deliberate self-harm (DSH) over the study period. Just over a twofold increase was observed in the frequency of cases during the 3-year study period. Just over two-thirds of the cases were females, and approximately 60 percent of the cases involved persons between the ages of 15-24. Poisoning was the method of DSH for 89.6 percent of the sample. Organophosphate pesticides were consumed in nearly two-thirds of the poisoning cases. The majority of cases occurred during the months of May to July during the last quarter of the day. The authors recommend that databases on DSH be improved in Nepal based on indepth community-based studies that collect epidemiological information on DSH. This information is needed for the development of DSH prevention programs. 2 tables, 1 figure, and 28 references