Factors Related to Attempted Suicide in Davanagere

RESEARCH QUESTION: What are the factors responsible for suicidal attempts? OBJECTIVES: To study the socio-demographic factors, methods and reasons for suicidal attempts. TYPE OF STUDY: Cross-sectional study. SETTING: Bapuji and C.G. Hospitals attached to J.J.M. Medical College, Davanagere. PARTICIPANTS: A total of 540 suicidal attempters admitted to emergency wards. METHODOLOGY: A pretested proforma was administered to the subjects relating the factors responsible for the attempt. The data thus obtained was compiled and analyzed. STATISTICAL ANALYSIS: Proportions, Z-test and Chi-square test. RESULTS: In this study, 61.3% were males and 38.7% were females. Peak occurrence of suicidal attempts was found in the second and third decades (15-29 years). Hindus constituted about 94.6% of the total suicidal attempters. Almost half (52.2%) of the subjects had education below or up to matriculation and 83% of them were from the lower (classes IV and V) socio-economic groups. Agriculturists, housewives and unskilled workers represented 75% of the total subjects. Fifty-five percent of the subjects were from nuclear families and most (62.4%) of them were married; frequent mode of attempting suicides was by organo-phosphorus compounds (66.3%) followed by overdosage of tablets (17.8%). Common cause was family problem (27.2%) followed by illness (27%).