A Retrospective Analysis of Suicidal Poisoning Deaths in a Metropolitan City of South India

Abstract

India, an agrarian country has a rising encumbrance to meet the demands of the population explosion. Overt and indiscriminate use of pesticides to enhance the agricultural yield has led its way to a steep rise in poisoning related deaths amongst the population, both accidental and deliberate. In this context, a retrospective observational study was undertaken in the Department of Forensic Medicine and Toxicology, Kempegowda Institute of Medical Sciences, Bangalore between June 2012 to May 2014, with an objective to study the socio demographic profile and mortality pattern in autopsy cases with an alleged history of suicidal poisoning thereby drawing attention of the policy makers of health to strive and prevent casualties. Out of 245 autopsied poisoning victims, 95.91% of cases were suicidal deaths. 44.26% victims were between 21–30 years of age, males constituted 67.65% of the total victims. Maximum cases occurred during the evening between 6 pm-12 am (45.54%). Financial and family problems were the root cause for 44.86% of the deaths. Organophosphorus was the most common poison consumed. This study emphasizes that multilevel interventions with good governance, policy support, reliable technical team would help reduce the rising suicidal poisoning rates.