Suicide: Studied in Srinagarind Hospital, Khon Kaen Province

Abstract

Background and objective: According to Criminal Procedure Law, unnatural deaths must be investigated by forensic pathologists and police officers. Unnatural deaths in Muang district, Khon Kaen province and those referred cases from other hospitals in the northeastern region  were autopsied in Srinagarind hospital,  Faculty of Medicine Khon Kaen University. The objective of this study is  to estimate the 5-year incidence of suicides in Srinagarind hospital, Khon Kaen province.

Methods: The death certificate and autopsy reports of suicides at the department of Forensic Medicine, Faculty of Medicine, Khon Kaen University during  January 2006 to 31 December 2010 were reviewed. The data were  analysed by descriptive statistics and  based on their sex, age, methods of choice and manner of death.

Results: Of  the 1966  unnatural death cases,169 cases (8.6 %)  were  from  suicide; 138 were males  and 31 females. The most common method of suicide was hanging (86.98%). The others include poisoning, wound  were found 10.06 %  and 2.96 %, respectively. Four gunshot wound  cases were found  only in males. Suicide rate by age groups were  mostly  found in 35-44 years (29.59%) and 25-34 years,15-24 years,45-54 years were found 20.12 %,19.53%,17.16 % ,respectively.Children under 15 years didn’t commit suicide. Most of cases committed suicide in October(24,14.2%) March(18, 10.65%) and  January(16, 9.47%).

Conclusion: The number of suicidal victims were small compared to other manner of death   (homicide, accident). Hanging was the most common method of choice for suicide.The most common age group was 35-44 years. Poisoning and wound were the next most common manner of  death, which most occurred  in October  and March. Children under 15 years  didn’ t commit suicide.