Prehospital care for suicide attempts: a cross-sectional study

ABSTRACT

Objective:

To characterize pre-hospital care for victims of attempted suicide.

Methods:

Cross-sectional study with pre-hospital care data conducted by the Mobile Emergency Care Service (SAMU), in Teresina, Piauí, from July/2015 to December/2018. Descriptive analysis was performed using Pearson’s chi-square test or Fisher’s exact test and analysis of the density of suicide attempts using the Kernel estimate.

Results:

Attendance to suicide attempts predominated in women (60,9%), adults aged 30 to 59 years (46,8%), residing in the Center/North Region (35,9%), on Sundays (16,5%), in the afternoon (32,9%) and night (34,9%) shifts. Recurrence of attempts (9,2%), history of psychiatric care (14,1%), alcohol abuse (17,5%) and other drugs (4,6%) were reported. The attendance in ambulances of advanced support and higher mortality before the rescue were more frequent in male victims (40,8% and 5,8%, respectively). The Center/North zone of the city concentrated the occurrences for both sexes.

Conclusion:

Pre-hospital care for suicide attempts in Teresina showed great demand for female victims, young people and a higher density of occurrence in the Center/North zone of the city. Alcohol use, more lethal means of self-harm and mortality were associated with males. It is necessary to disseminate this information and train professionals on the prevention and approach to suicide attempts, in addition to promoting public policies capable of reducing suicide attempts.

KEYWORDS
Suicide attempt; pre-hospital care; cross-sectional studies; mental health