Acute pesticide poisonings epidemiology in El Salvador

Abstract

Introduction. The extended distribution of pesticide facilitates the increase of pesticide poisoning in the developing countries. A rate of 35 × 100 000 people was reported in El Salvador. Objective. To describe the epidemiological situation of acute pesticide poisonings, registered in the public health system of El Salvador between 2012 and 2015. Methods. A cross sectional study that includes 5988 persons. The variables were evaluated through absolute value and percentage. The incidence rate per 100 000 habitants, was calculated. Spatial analysis was made through choropleth maps. Results. The annual mean of intoxicated was 1497. The most affected people have a mean of age of 31 years old (SD 17.2) mainly men (68.6%) from the rural area (74.7%). Almost half of intoxicated was a suicide attempt (48%) and 26.9 % was occupational intoxication. Most of 40 pesticides was identified as causative of intoxication. The 10.5 % of intoxicated died. The incidence rate was 94.6 × 100 000 people. In the 97 % of the municipalities was registered pesticide intoxication with a rate of 137.1 × 100 000 people. Conclusion. The people of all ages were affected by the pesticide poisoning, mainly the young men from the rural areas, who use the pesticide for suicidal attempt and most of them died.

Relación de intencionalidad en pacientes con intoxicaciones agudas por plaguicidas en un hospital de Ibagué-Colombia

“…De los cinco casos que fallecieron, tres ya habían intentado finiquitar su vida, situación que resulta alarmante, ya que la población más afectada correspondió a jóvenes y adultos en edad productiva, con edades comprendidas entre los 14 y los 29 años. Lo anterior coincide con lo planteado en diferentes estudios de América Latina (15,28,29) , al evidenciar que la conducta suicida predomina en el sexo femenino y el suicidio en el sexo masculino, resaltando que el método para finiquitar la vida depende de la facilidad con que puedan acceder a estos tóxicos y ello depende de las políticas que se aplican en los distintos países (15) .…”