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Forensic Science, Medicine and Pathology
Published in: Forensic Science, Medicine and Pathology 4/2017

01-12-2017 | Original Article

Suicide in children and adolescents: a Tunisian perspective from 2009 to 2015

Authors: Wael Majdoub, Amal Mosbahi, Maroua Naouar, Meriem Beji, Jihene Mannai, Elyes Turki

Published in: Forensic Science, Medicine and Pathology | Issue 4/2017

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Abstract

This study presents the characteristics of child and adolescent suicides which occurred in Kairouan, Tunisia. Data were collected from autopsy records of the Forensic Department of the University Hospital Ibn El Jazzar of Kairouan. General characteristics of suicides among children and adolescents (under the age of 18) between 2009 and 2015 were retrospectively reviewed. A total of 49 cases, with a female predominance (61.2%) and a mean age of 15.4 ± 2.1, were registered. Most of the victims were from rural areas (93.1%). In most cases, suicide occurred in the victim’s home or the surrounding area (73.4%). The identified precipitating factors were family problems in 55.1%, and school issues in 12.2%. The most common suicide method was hanging (69.38%) for both genders, followed by self-immolation for males and poisoning for females, the majority using pesticides. This study offers useful information to understand the risk factors in Tunisian child and adolescent suicides and provides a basis for the development of urgently needed preventive strategies.
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Metadata
Title
Suicide in children and adolescents: a Tunisian perspective from 2009 to 2015
Authors
Wael Majdoub
Amal Mosbahi
Maroua Naouar
Meriem Beji
Jihene Mannai
Elyes Turki
Publication date
01-12-2017
Publisher
Springer US
Published in
Forensic Science, Medicine and Pathology / Issue 4/2017
Print ISSN: 1547-769X
Electronic ISSN: 1556-2891
DOI
https://doi.org/10.1007/s12024-017-9909-y

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