Trends in suicide, parasuicide and accidental poisoning in Children in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia

Abstract

Abstract: Due to lack of compiled data on suicide, parasuicide and accidental poisoning (AP) in under-fifteens in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia, it was essential to prepare and analyze these basic data. By using estimated mid-year population for 0-4 and 5-14 years age groups and fiscal year morbidity and mortality data reports, age and sex-specific suicide, parasuicide, and AP rates (per 100,000) are, calculated for 1981/82-1995/96. No suicide deaths or ‘undetermined’ deaths were reported in underfifteens, but 12 deaths were recorded in the two pediatrics hospitals of Addis Ababa following admissions for AP. Out of 479 reported parasuicide cases, 402(83.9%) were in the age group of 514 years and the average parasuicide rate for the same age group was 6.74 and 5.32 for boys and girls, respectively. The trends of the reported parasuicide rates showed small peaks initially in 1981/82 in both age groups, but after 1990/91 only the age group of 5-14 showed peaks. Out of 939 cases of AP,533 (56.8%) were in the age group of 0-4 years and the rest in the age group of 5-14. Males in the age group of 0-4 have the highest AP rate (19.91%) followed by females (12.60%) of the same age group. Possible reasons for changes in trends and preventive measure are discussed. [Ethiop. J. Health Dev. 1999;13(3):263-269]