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Table 2 Situation of suicide attempters at general hospitals in Hawassa city from Nov 2014–Aug 2015

From: Socio-demographic characteristics, clinical profile and prevalence of existing mental illness among suicide attempters attending emergency services at two hospitals in Hawassa city, South Ethiopia: a cross-sectional study

Variable

Number (%)

Methods of suicidal attempt

 Hanging

8 (8.3)

 Organophosphate poisoning

42 (43.8)

 Medication overdose

6 (6.2)

 Bleaching agent

37 (38.5)

 Others

3 (3.1)

Immediate reason for suicide

 Quarrel with the family

59 (61.5)

 Problem related with love affairs

6 (6.2)

 Quarrel with spouse

3 (3.1)

 Quarrel with friends

1 (1)

 Academic difficulties

4 (4.2)

 Financial crisis

6 (6.2)

 Unplanned and unwanted pregnancy

10 (10.4)

 Other

(7.3)

Clinical status during arrivala

 Lethargic

11 (10.9)

 Comatose

11 (10.9)

 Alert

79 (78.2)

Hospital stay

 Sent home immediately

9 (9.6)

 Kept for ≤12 h

50 (52.1)

 Kept for more than 24 h

37 (38.5)

Impulsivity of suicide attempt

 Within 5 min of decision

30 (31.3)

 After 5 min of decision

66 (68.8)

Intention of suicidal attempt

 I made the attempt to kill myself and it was only luck that I did not succeed

32 (33.3)

 My attempt was a cry for help and I did not intend to die

64 (66.7)

Attitude towards being survive

 

 Angry

9 (9.4)

 Glad

85 (88.5)

 Indifferent

2 (2.1)

Warning sign

 Yes

41 (42.7)

 No

55 (57.3)

Type of warning sign

 Hopelessness

33 (34.4)

 Threatening to hurt or kill self

4 (4.2)

 Looking for ways to kill self

3 (3.1)

 Talking or writing about death, dying or suicide

1 (1.0)

Recent(≤6 months) hospital visits

 Yes

76 (79.2)

 No

15 (15.6)

Reason for hospital visit

 Medical

76 (95.0)

 Psychiatric

4 (5.0)

Site of suicidal attempt

 Inside living room

84 (88.4)

 Inside washroom

2 (2.1)

 Backyard

1 (1.1)

 Field

4 (4.2)

 Forest

2 (2.1)

 Others

1 (1.1)

Support for suicide failure

 Parent

55 (57.3)

 Siblings

21 (21.9)

 Friends

13 (13.5)

 Close relative

1 (1.0)

 Neighbor

5 (5.2)

 Passer by

1 (1.0)

Psychiatry diagnosis

 Present

3 (3.1)

 Absent

93 (96.9)

  1. aThe percentage was calculating among 101 patients presenting to emergency OPD while the percentage of other variables were calculated among 96 study participants included in the study