Characteristics of Pesticide Poisoning in Rural and Urban Settings in Uganda

Characteristics and related factors of suicide attempts among patients admitted to an Iranian poisoning center: Implications for suicide prevention

Background

Suicide is a major public health concern worldwide. Iran is no exception, with suicide rates increasing in recent years. Understanding the characteristics and related factors of suicide attempts can help inform suicide prevention efforts in Iran.

Methods

A cross-sectional study was conducted on patients who attempted suicide and were admitted to the poisoning emergency of an intoxication center in Shiraz, Iran, between November 2019 and January 2020. Data were collected using data sheets containing study variables completed by oral interviewers and analyzed using descriptive and inferential statistics.

Results

The study included 302 individuals, with the majority being females (63.6%), and the mean age was 28.19 (SD 19.25) years. The majority of patients were living in urban areas (82.5%) and unmarried (60.9%). Medical drug abuse was the most common method of self-poisoning (76.5%), followed by narcotics (15.6%). Suicide attempts were predominantly carried out at night (59.9%) and on working days (78.5%). Most patients had no history of previous suicidal attempts (64.2%), psychiatric problems (64.6%), or physical illnesses (84.8%). Female gender (P = 0.017) and the presence of an underlying disease (P = 0.016) were the two risk factors significantly associated with suicide on non-working days.

Conclusion

Our study highlights the need for comprehensive suicide prevention strategies that consider the complex interplay of individual, sociocultural, and environmental factors that contribute to suicidal behaviors. The high proportion of female suicide attempters and the timing of suicide attempts suggest the need for gender-specific suicide prevention programs and focused suicide prevention efforts during high-risk periods. Additionally, the association between physical illnesses and suicide attempts underscores the importance of integrated mental and physical health care services.

Predictors of mortality in emergency centre patients with acute pesticide poisoning in Uganda

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Acute pesticide poisoning disproportionately affects LMICs.

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The scarcity of poison information centres in Africa leads to under-reporting of the problem.

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Most African countries, like Uganda, are resource limited and would benefit from a quick and easy mode of prognostication.

Introduction

Although the global suicide deaths due to intentional pesticide poisoning disproportionately occur in low income countries (LIC) and lower to middle income Countries (LMIC), there is a scarcity of reports on emergency centre (EC) mortality and its predictors in these settings. Our goal was to determine the case fatality rate of Acute Pesticide Poisoning (APP) presenting to Mbarara Regional Referral Hospital (MRRH) EC and find out whether initial triage category predicted mortality in these patients.

Methods

This was a prospective observational longitudinal study. Patients presenting with APP were enrolled using data collection forms. Data collected included initial triage category, vital signs, demographics, initial assessment, and management. They were followed up for 1 week.

Results

Out of 66 patients admitted with suspected pesticide poisoning, 61 had complete follow up during the study period. However, only 58 patients had the pesticide ingested confirmed. These were predominantly males 48 (73%) and farmers 28(42%) with a median age of 23 years (IQR 18-31). Majority of patients 58 (88%) were suicide attempts and had ingested mostly organophosphates 23 (35%), amitraz 11(17%), zinc phosphide 7(10%), and aluminium phosphide 4(6%). The median time from ingestion to presentation was 4hours (IQR 2.5-8). More than half 41(62%) of the patients were in the red triage category (ESI-1). The overall case fatality rate of APP was 18%. Majority of patients who died were in the red triage category but the initial triage category was not significantly associated with mortality (p=0.381). Male gender (p=0.018), time of admission (p= 0.037), and triage vitals including hypothermia (p=0.020), hypoxia (p= 0.004), hypotension (p= 0.031), and tachypnea (p= 0.031) were significantly associated with mortality.

Discussion

Although initial triage category was a poor predictor, triage vital signs, gender, and time of admission were significantly associated with mortality in patients with APP.

Current pesticide suicide surveillance methods used across the African continent: a scoping review protocol

INTRODUCTION

Every year, more than 800 000 people die from suicides of which an estimated 20% are from pesticide ingestion. Multiple studies have estimated that around 77%-80% of these pesticide suicides occur in low/middle-income countries. The full burden of pesticide suicides in African countries remains poorly documented, one reason being the lack of systematic data collection. It is essential to know the number of pesticide suicide cases to guide prevention of further cases occurring. This can be done by informing policy and legislation, and the implementation of targeted bans, as well as raising community awareness around the use of these pesticides, training of healthcare personnel, and influencing the type and level of clinical facility investments into this area of healthcare. The scoping review aims to investigate how pesticide suicide deaths in Africa are recorded by exploring the various surveillance systems in place, as well as highlighting key limitations and data collection barriers.

METHODS AND ANALYSIS

A scoping review will be carried out with the five-stage methodological frameworks set out by Arksey and O'Malley and the Joanna Briggs Institute. Studies in English that looked at pesticide suicide in African countries will be extracted and screened independently by two reviewers against the inclusion and exclusion criteria of this review. Studies' data will be extracted, and a descriptive synthesis developed of their main findings, as guided by the approach of Levac and colleagues.

ETHICS AND DISSEMINATION

Ethics approval is not required for this review as no human participants will be involved. The study findings will be distributed in a peer-reviewed publication.

REGISTRATION DETAILS

This protocol has been submitted for publication to BMJ Open.

[Poisoning inquiries from Berlin and Brandenburg from 1999-2018: an urban-rural comparison]

Hintergrund und Ziel

Der Berliner Giftnotruf ist seit 1963 die zentrale Anlaufstelle beim Thema „Vergiftungen“ für die Berliner und Brandenburger Bevölkerung. Ferner nimmt die Einrichtung eine wichtige Funktion im Bereich der Vergiftungsprävention wahr. Ziel dieser Arbeit ist es, die Entwicklung des Beratungsaufkommens und der Inhalte von 1999 bis 2018 zu beschreiben. Unterschiede bei städtischer und ländlicher Herkunft der Anrufenden sowie bei privatem oder beruflichem Hintergrund der Anfragen werden betrachtet. Die Ergebnisse sollen der Verbesserung der Präventionsarbeit dienen.

Methoden

Die Falldaten des Giftnotrufs (1999–2018) wurden aufbereitet und einer explorativen Datenanalyse unterzogen. Über Verfahren der deskriptiven Statistik wurden die Daten ausgewertet und analysiert. Zusammenhänge zwischen der „Herkunft des Anrufs“ (Stadt oder Land), dem „Hintergrund“ (privat oder beruflich) und der jeweiligen „Noxenkategorie“ wurden mittels Pearsons Chi-Quadrat-Test analysiert.

Ergebnisse

Das jährliche Beratungsvolumen stieg tendenziell an. Insbesondere Anfragen zu Expositionen von Erwachsenen und Senioren nahmen zu. Häufigste Themen waren Vergiftungen mit Medikamenten und Publikumsmitteln. Anfragen zu illegalen Drogen nahmen am stärksten zu (durchschnittliche jährliche Wachstumsrate 6,3 %). Anfragenden Privatpersonen kann in den meisten Fällen direkt geholfen werden (86,8 %), sodass nur selten eine medizinische Behandlung empfohlen wird. Privatpersonen rufen häufiger aus der Stadt an, auf dem Land überwiegen Anrufe von medizinischem Personal. Im ländlichen Raum wurden Anfragen zu Schädlingsbekämpfungsmitteln, Pilzen, Tieren und Pflanzen häufiger gestellt. Anrufe zu Lebensmitteln, Fremdkörpern, Genussmitteln oder illegalen Drogen gingen hingegen vermehrt aus dem städtischen Raum ein.

The global distribution of acute unintentional pesticide poisoning: estimations based on a systematic review

BACKGROUND

Human poisoning by pesticides has long been seen as a severe public health problem. As early as 1990, a task force of the World Health Organization (WHO) estimated that about one million unintentional pesticide poisonings occur annually, leading to approximately 20,000 deaths. Thirty years on there is no up-to-date picture of global pesticide poisoning despite an increase in global pesticide use. Our aim was to systematically review the prevalence of unintentional, acute pesticide poisoning (UAPP), and to estimate the annual global number of UAPP.

METHODS

We carried out a systematic review of the scientific literature published between 2006 and 2018, supplemented by mortality data from WHO. We extracted data from 157 publications and the WHO cause-of-death database, then performed country-wise synopses, and arrived at annual numbers of national UAPP. World-wide UAPP was estimated based on national figures and population data for regions defined by the Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO).

RESULTS

In total 141 countries were covered, including 58 by the 157 articles and an additional 83 by data from the WHO Mortality Database. Approximately 740,000 annual cases of UAPP were reported by the extracted publications resulting from 7446 fatalities and 733,921 non-fatal cases. On this basis, we estimate that about 385 million cases of UAPP occur annually world-wide including around 11,000 fatalities. Based on a worldwide farming population of approximately 860 million this means that about 44% of farmers are poisoned by pesticides every year. The greatest estimated number of UAPP cases is in southern Asia, followed by south-eastern Asia and east Africa with regards to non-fatal UAPP.

CONCLUSIONS

Our study updates outdated figures on world-wide UAPP. Along with other estimates, robust evidence is presented that acute pesticide poisoning is an ongoing major global public health challenge. There is a need to recognize the high burden of non-fatal UAPP, particularly on farmers and farmworkers, and that the current focus solely on fatalities hampers international efforts in risk assessment and prevention of poisoning. Implementation of the international recommendations to phase out highly hazardous pesticides by the FAO Council could significantly reduce the burden of UAPP.

Acute pesticide poisoning amongst adolescent girls and women in northern Tanzania

BACKGROUND

Acute pesticide poisoning (APP) is reported to affect community health worldwide but its burden in Tanzania is unknown particularly in women. This study examines APP involving adult females and adolescent girls 10 to 19 years in 3 regions of Tanzania which are famous for coffee and vegetable production.

METHODS

Over the period of 12 months, health facility-based surveillance for cases of APP was implemented in 10 Tanzanian healthcare facilities in 2006.

RESULTS

The study identified 108 APP cases of whom 31 (28.7%) occurred amongst adolescent girls. Suicide was the leading poisoning circumstances (60.2%) and the most vulnerable women were 20-29 years old who comprised 38.4% of all cases with suicide as circumstance. Organophosphates (OPs), zinc phosphide, paraquat and endosulfan were common amongst known reported poisoning agents. The annual APP incidence, mortality and Case Fatality Rate for women were 5.1/100,000, 0.2/100,000 and 3.7/100, respectively.

CONCLUSION

APP amongst women in Tanzania is common and this call for diverse preventive interventions to reduce poisoning incidents.

Doctors experiences on the quality of care for pesticide poisoning patients in hospitals in Kampala, Uganda: a qualitative exploration using donabedian's model

BACKGROUND

Pesticides are responsible for a significant percentage of deaths globally with majority occurring in sub-Saharan Africa. Deaths due to pesticide poisoning can be reduced if poisoning cases are managed optimally. However, the quality of care given to pesticide poisoning patients is still insufficient especially in sub-Saharan Africa. This study was aimed at exploring doctors' experiences on quality of care for pesticide poisoning cases in hospitals in Kampala, Uganda.

METHODS

Fifteen (15) in-depth interviews were conducted with doctors who were directly involved in management of pesticide poisoning patients in the accident and emergency, Medicine, Pediatrics and Intensive Care Unit wards in 5 hospitals in Kampala, Uganda. All interviews were transcribed and subjected to directed content analysis with the guidance of the Donabedian model of quality of care which emphasizes structure, process and outcome measures as pertinent to ensuring quality of care.

RESULTS

Doctors reported structural, process and outcome facets that support diagnosis and treatment of pesticide poisoning cases that improved the quality of care they provided. Among the structures includes hospital units such as Intensive Care Unit (ICU), pediatrics and internal medicine; equipment and clinical guidelines such as airway, breathing and consciousness (ABC) protocol; and doctors' knowledge and experiences. Doctors relied on history, and signs and symptoms to establish the cause and severity of pesticide poisoning. However, some patients and caretakers provided inaccurate pesticide poisoning history. Due to its availability in hospitals, doctors largely relied on atropine to manage pesticide poisoning cases whether or not relevant to treat the actual pesticide active ingredient responsible for the poisoning. Although majority of the cases treated recovered, those due to suicide were further referred to the hospital psychiatrist. Sharing experiences of managing pesticide poisoning patients among health workers and engaging in sensitization outreaches against pesticide poisoning were reported as potential activities to improve quality of care for pesticide poisoning patients.

CONCLUSION

Doctors reflected on the structure, process and outcome measures of quality of care given to pesticide poisoning patients. The implications of hospital structures and clinical process to the quality of the outcomes of care demonstrates their importance in improving management of pesticide poisoning cases in hospitals in Kampala, Uganda.

Fatal cases associated with eating chapatti contaminated with organophosphate in Tororo District, Eastern Uganda, 2015: case series

BACKGROUND

Few cases of organophosphate poisoning in developing countries have been investigated using clinical and epidemiological methods. On 30 October 2015, 3 students at Mukuju School, Tororo District, Uganda, died soon after eating chapatti (locally-made flat bread) from the same food stand. Ministry of Health investigated to identify the cause and recommend prevention measures.

METHODS

We defined a case as onset during 30-31 October 2015 in a resident of Mukuju Town of ≥1 of the following symptoms: excessive saliva, profuse sweating, dizziness, low blood pressure, constricted pupils or loss of consciousness. We reviewed medical/police records and interviewed survivors, healthcare workers, and police officers. We collected samples of implicated food for toxicological analysis. Autopsies were performed on decedents to identify the cause of death.

RESULTS

We identified 7 cases with 3 deaths (case-fatality ratio = 43%). Clinical manifestations included acute onset of confusion (100%), constricted pupils (43%), excessive saliva (43%), and low blood pressure (43%). All 7 cases had onset from 16:00-18:00 h on 30 October, with a point-source exposure pattern. Of the 7 cases, 86% (6/7) were men; the mean age was 24 (range: 20-32) years. The 3 decedents each ate a whole chapatti while the other 4 cases ate half or less. Autopsy findings of the 3 decedents indicated organophosphate poisoning. Toxicological analysis found high levels of malathion in leftover foods (266 mg/L in dough and 258 mg/L in chapatti) and malaoxon (a highly toxic malathion derivative) in decedents' postmortem specimens (mean levels of 19 mg/L in the blood and 22 mg/L in the gastric contents). There was a delay of 4 h before the patients received appropriate treatment. Police investigations revealed that flour used to make the chapatti was intentionally contaminated with an organophosphate pesticide.

CONCLUSION

This fatal outbreak of organophosphate poisoning was associated with consumption of roadside-vended chapatti made of flour contaminated with pesticide. Clinicians should be aware of symptoms of organophosphate poisoning and prepared to treat it quickly. Street vendors should carefully consider the source of their ingredients. An in-depth surveillance review of such poisonings in Uganda would guide policymakers in reducing access by criminals and accidental exposures for the public.

Association Between Chronic Exposure to Pesticide and Suicide

OBJECTIVE

We investigated the association between suicide and pesticide exposure in a community-based cohort study.

METHODS

We performed a longitudinal analysis of 6333 who participated in the initial survey of the Korean Genome and Epidemiology Study. Data were collected using a questionnaire to assess the prevalence of suicide. We calculated the hazard ratios (HRs) for suicide by pesticide exposure using the Cox proportional hazard model.

RESULTS

After adjusting for variables, participants exposed to pesticides had a 1.88-fold increased risk of suicide (HR, 1.88; 95% confidence interval [CI], 1.11 to 3.16) than those who were not exposed. Study populations with greater pesticide use (HR, 2.42; 95% CI, 1.27 to 4.60) and pesticide addiction had the highest suicide rates (HR, 1.91; 95% CI, 1.03 to 3.56).

CONCLUSIONS

Pesticide exposure for suicide should be considered during the development and implementation of suicide prevention in rural area.

Aptasensors for pesticide detection

Pesticide contamination has become one of the most serious problems of public health in the world, due to their wide application in agriculture industry to guarantee the crop yield and quality. The detection of pesticide residues plays an important role in food safety management and environment protection. However, the conventional detection methodologies cannot realize highly sensitive, selective and on-site detection, which limits their applications. Aptamers are short single-stranded oligonucleotides (RNA or DNA) selected by SELEX method, which can selectively bind to their targets with high affinity. Compared with the commonly used antibodies or enzymes in designing biosensors, aptamers exhibit better stability, low molecular weight, easy modification and low cost, and were regarded as excellent candidates for developing aptasensors for pesticide detection. In this review, application of aptamers for pesticide detection was reviewed. Firstly, aptamers specifically bind to various pesticides were first summarized. Secondly, the progresses and highlights of developing aptasensors for highly-sensitive and selective detection of pesticide residues were systematically provided. Finally, the present challenges and future perspectives for developing novel highly-effective aptasensor for the detection of pesticide residues were discussed.

Sociodemographic Characteristics and Health Profile of the Elderly Seeking Health Care in Kampala, Uganda

Aging entails health challenges globally, but pertinent data from low-income countries like Uganda remains scarce. A cross-sectional study was carried out at Mulago National Referral Hospital in Kampala, among 134 patients (38% men and 62% women) aged ≥60 years. Data was collected on sociodemographic characteristics, medical disorders, cognitive function, hearing handicap, and functional status, that is, Basic Activities of Daily Living (BADL) and Instrumental Activities of Daily Living (IADL). The participants had high independency in BADL (89%) and IADL (75%). The most common medical conditions were bone/joint pain (35%), hypertension (24%), and visual problems (20%). More women (54%) than men (37%) reported bone and joint pain. The majority (80%) of the participants did not report any hearing handicap, and half (54%) did not have any cognitive impairment. Dependency in IADL was associated with advanced age, being female, and being financially dependent, and the risk of having a hearing handicap was higher among those above the median age (68 years). In adjusted models, the effects remained similar although statistical significance was only achieved for advanced age versus dependency in IADL (RR: 2.38, 95% CI: 1.12-5.08) and hearing handicap (RR: 2.67, 95% CI: 1.17-6.12). Thus, socioeconomic status and gender are relevant aspects when attempting to understand the health profile of the elderly in Kampala, Uganda.