Social factors behind rising trends of intentional ingestions of caustic agents in adult population of Pakistan. A study from tertiary health care center, Islamabad.

Abstract

Objective To evaluate factors associated with rising trends of intentional ingestion of caustic agents for suicidal attempts in Pakistan. Study Design: Cross Sectional, Observational study. Setting: Tertiary Health Care Center of Islamabad. Period: January 2019 to December 2020. Material & Methods: One hundred subjects with intentional ingestion of caustic ingestion treated in Gastroenterology unit were interviewed on a written questioner after their recovery and informed consent. Non-probability purposive was sampling method used. Results: Out of 100 patients 63% were female, mean age was 28.81 years and 58% had suicidal intension. Disturbed marital/ family life was main factor behind suicidal attempts. (P= 0.025). Conclusion: factors like female gender, younger age, poor socioeconomic status and disturbed marital/ family life in study group had statistically significant association with suicidal intentions.