Table 4.
Circumstances and reasons for poisoning among victims at JOOTRH.
| Variable | Frequency (n = 385) |
|---|---|
| Circumstance | |
| Accidental | 242 (62.9%) |
| Suicidal | 122 (31.7%) |
| Homicidal | 17 (4.4%) |
| Suicidal and homicidal | 1 (0.3%) |
| Unknown | 3 (0.8%) |
| Reasons for poisoning | |
| Accidentally bitten by snakes | 127 (33.0%) |
| Domestic quarrels | 68 (17.7%) |
| Parental negligence | 44 (11.4%) |
| Poor food handling/preparation | 17 (4.4%) |
| Alcohol misuse | 14 (3.6%) |
| Psychiatric disorders | 12 (3.1%) |
| Love affairs | 11 (2.9%) |
| Curiosity | 7 (1.8%) |
| Traditional beliefs | 5 (1.3%) |
| Unemployment | 4 (1.0%) |
| Unknown | 51 (13.2%) |
| Others a | 25 (6.5%) |
a Includes college dismissal, exam failure, financial problems, HIV status, poorly-labelled medicine, occupational hazard, self-treatment, and unplanned pregnancy.