Abstract
BackgroundDual harm encompasses the complex interplay of the co-occurrence of self-harm and aggression. Individuals with dual harm may display a more hazardous pattern of harmful behaviors like homicide-suicide compared to people with sole harm. This study aimed to examine the presence of dual harm among general psychiatry inpatients in a mental health unit in Uganda.MethodsA retrospective chart review of 3098 inpatients from January 2018 to December 2021. Dual harm reported experience at admission was based on experiences of self-harm with harm to people or property or both. Logistic regression assessed the association between dual harm and sociodemographics and clinical characteristics.ResultsA total of 29 (1%) patients experienced dual harm, with five having experienced self-harm with both harm to others and property, 23 with harm to people, and one with harm to property. Dual harm was statistically significantly associated with the male gender at bivariate analysis. However, there were no statistically significant factors associated with dual harm at multivariate analysis or sensitivity analysis with the specific types of dual harm.ConclusionGeneral psychiatry inpatients in Uganda experience dual harm before admission at lower prevalence than in previous literature. However, no investigated sociodemographic and clinical factors could explain these experiences. Further studies looking at dual harm are warranted to understand these unfortunate experiences with serious consequences among patients in Uganda.
Talk to us
Join us for a 30 min session where you can share your feedback and ask us any queries you have
Disclaimer: All third-party content on this website/platform is and will remain the property of their respective owners and is provided on "as is" basis without any warranties, express or implied. Use of third-party content does not indicate any affiliation, sponsorship with or endorsement by them. Any references to third-party content is to identify the corresponding services and shall be considered fair use under The CopyrightLaw.