What question did this study set out to answer?

To determine whether national regulatory restrictions on the import and sale of highly hazardous pesticides contributed to the steep decline in suicides in Sri Lanka between 1995 and 2005.

August 27, 2007International Journal of EpidemiologyOpen Access

The impact of pesticide regulations on suicide in Sri Lanka

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Authors

DGD. GunnellUniversity of Peradeniya RFR FernandoLiverpool Hospital MHM HewagamaSouth Asian Clinical Toxicology Research Collaboration

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Implication

Ecological analysis reveals halved suicide rates following bans on highly toxic agricultural chemicals in the general population, highlighting the life-saving potential of means restriction.

Key Points

To determine whether national regulatory restrictions on the import and sale of highly hazardous pesticides contributed to the steep decline in suicides in Sri Lanka between 1995 and 2005.
Conducted an ecological time-trend analysis using graphical and descriptive approaches to track suicide rates and potential risk factors in Sri Lanka from 1975 to 2005.
Evaluated the temporal impact of regulatory bans on WHO Class I toxicity pesticides (enacted in 1995) and endosulfan (enacted in 1998) against secular trends in unemployment, alcohol misuse, divorce, pesticide use, and civil war.
National suicide incidence peaked at 47 per 100,000 in 1995 and halved by 2005, resulting in 19,769 fewer suicides during 1996–2005 compared with 1986–1995 across both sexes and all age groups.
The sustained decline in suicide coincided directly with bans on WHO Class I pesticides and endosulfan, whereas secular trends in unemployment, alcohol misuse, divorce, and civil conflict showed no association with the reduction.

Cite This Study

Gunnell et al. (2007) studied this question.

synapsesocial.com/papers/6a03ad6a2ca770c848de06c3 https://doi.org/10.1093/ije/dym164

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Implication

Ecological analysis reveals halved suicide rates following bans on highly toxic agricultural chemicals in the general population, highlighting the life-saving potential of means restriction.

The impact of pesticide regulations on suicide in Sri Lanka

Discussion

Member takes

Implication

Key Points

Cite This Study

The impact of pesticide regulations on suicide in Sri Lanka

Discussion

Member takes

Implication

Key Points

Cite This Study

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