Prevalence and Associated Factors of Acute Poisoning in Galle District, Southern Province, Sri Lanka: A Cross-sectional Analytical Study.

Abstract

Background: Acute poisoning (AP) represents a significant public health challenge worldwide, exerting considerable morbidity and mortality burdens. Understanding of patterns over different regions during different time durations is important to take preventive measures to increase the quality of life. Objective: To determine the prevalence, case fatality rate, and association of socio-demographic factors of AP in the Galle district and to assess the pattern of fatal and non-fatal AP Methods: Data of all AP admissions and, suicides and homicides following AP from January 1, 2020, to December 31, 2022 were collected from the Indoor Morbidity and Mortality Return (IMMR) system of the teaching hospital Karapitiya (THK) and records available at district Crime Detective Bureau units of the Galle and Elpitiya police divisions, respectively. Data were analysed using SPSS version 26.0 and Microsoft Excel.

Results: During the study period, 1297 individuals were admitted to THK following AP including 671 females (51.7%), while 93 fatal deliberate AP cases were reported in police records with 84.9% of males (n=79). The prevalence was 40.3 per 100,000 population per year (95% CI= 36.8 44.2). The case fatality rate of AP was 8.9% (95% CI=6.6-11.8%). The highest prevalence (22.3/100,000 population, 95% CI=19.7-25.2) and case fatality rate were reported from poisoning with medicaments and pesticides respectively. The highest proportion of AP cases were reported from 11-20 years age group (n=444, 32.1%, 95% CI=30.2-35.2). There was a significant association of poison category with gender (p<0.05, 2=125.9), age (p<0.05, 2=236.7), and the individual’s outcome; death or alive (p<0.05, 2=250.9).

Conclusions: The predominant group vulnerable to acute poisoning in the study group was females. Fatal deliberate self-poisoning was more common among males. The 11-20 years age group reported the highest number of AP cases during the period.