ABSTRACT
To study the clinical and sociodemographic trends and determine the pattern and resources of parasuicide with drugs and household products in North Jordan. A retrospective data review. The Medical Department, Princess Basma Teaching Hospital, a 500-bed university-affiliated hospital in North Jordan. All patients aged 15 years and over, with a diagnosis of deliberate drug overdose, ingestion or poisoning, listed according to the International Classification of Diseases Ninth Revision [ICD-9] over the period January 1990 to January 1994, were included in the study. Over the indexed period 709 cases were admitted. These cases represented 8% of all acute medical admissions. The annual incidence rate was 127 cases per 100000 population. The highest rates were found among adolescents [416 cases per 100 000 in the 15-19 year age group]. There was no significant age difference for both sexes [mean +/- SD was 22.1 +/- 6.7 and 21.7 +/- 6.4 for males and females respectively] [p>0.05]. The female to male ratio was 1.4:1 and the mean length of stay in hospital was 2.7 days. Household products were the most common agents used [19%], followed by paracetamol [15%], while the most common source of the agent involved was a drug prescribed to the patient or a family member [38%], followed by household products and agricultural organophosphorus compounds available at home [23%]. A psychiatric diagnosis was made in 17% of cases and a previous suicidal attempt had been made in 10% of the cases. Twenty per cent [20%] were admitted to the medical intensive care unit [MICU]; 8% were in coma at the time of admission and four of these patients died, constituting a hospital mortality of 0.6%. The findings of this study refute the general belief that parasuicide is rare in this part of the world. Clearly it continues to be a major health problem for which effective preventive and therapeutic strategies are badly needed