@article{ref1,
title="Epidemiology of organophosphate poisoning in the Tshwane District of South Africa",
journal="Environmental health insights",
year="2017",
author="Razwiedani, L. L. and Rautenbach, Pgd",
volume="11",
number="",
pages="e1178630217694149-e1178630217694149",
abstract="BACKGROUND: Organophosphate poisoning is a major public health problem in South Africa. Individuals get exposed to organophosphate in both the domestic and industrial spheres. <br><br>METHOD: A cross-sectional study was conducted using retrospective, secondary data of organophosphate poisoning cases over a 3-year period, reported at the Tshwane District surveillance office. Data were analysed using Microsoft Excel, and Epi Info version 7 was used for descriptive statistics. <br><br>RESULTS: A total of 207 cases were reported with ages ranging from 10 months to 59 years. Most of the cases were men (58.9%). Intentional poisoning accounted for 51% of cases. Unintentional poisoning accounted for 21.7% of cases, and 26.5% of cases had unknown circumstances of poisoning. A significant number (50.2%) of intentional poisonings were suicide related. Nonsuicidal cases accounted for 47.4% of cases, and deliberate unlawful poisoning accounted for 2.4% of cases. The mortality rate for the whole group was 3.4%. <br><br>CONCLUSIONS: Improvement in data collection on organophosphate poisoning is essential to properly measure the burden of the problem. More effective regulatory controls for pesticide use are needed in South Africa.<p /> <p>Language: en</p>",
language="en",
issn="1178-6302",
doi="10.1177/1178630217694149",
url="http://dx.doi.org/10.1177/1178630217694149"
}