The impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on presentations with suicidal behaviour in a tertiary hospital Emergency Centre in the Eastern Cape, South Africa–A cross-sectional analysis
Introduction: Suicidal behaviour is a public health emergency, causing an estimated one million deaths globally each year. The impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on suicidal behaviour is not fully understood. This study aimed to describe the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on presentations with suicida...
Saved in:
| Main Authors: | , , |
|---|---|
| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
| Published: |
Elsevier
2024-12-01
|
| Series: | African Journal of Emergency Medicine |
| Subjects: | |
| Online Access: | http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S2211419X2400034X |
| Tags: |
Add Tag
No Tags, Be the first to tag this record!
|
| Summary: | Introduction: Suicidal behaviour is a public health emergency, causing an estimated one million deaths globally each year. The impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on suicidal behaviour is not fully understood. This study aimed to describe the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on presentations with suicidal behaviour at a tertiary hospital in the Eastern Cape, South Africa. Method: This study was a retrospective cross-sectional analysis of patients with fatal and nonfatal suicidal behaviour who presented to Frere Hospital Emergency Centre in the Eastern Cape, South Africa. The analysis included three study periods: August to October 2019 (pre-COVID-19), August to October 2020 (wave 1), and August to October 2021(wave 3). Results: A total of 16 419 patients presented to the Frere Hospital Emergency Centre during the study period, with 6 204 in 2019, 4 909 in 2020, and 5 306 in 2021. These correspond to the research periods from August to October for each successive year. The overall prevalence of suicidal behaviour was 1.6 % but decreased marginally during the pandemic (1.8 % in 2019 vs. 1.4 % in 2021) – contrary to what occurred in high-income countries. The prevalence demonstrated a clinically insignificant stepwise decline as the pandemic progressed and was inversely associated with the number of daily new COVID-19 cases nationally. A significant increase in the emergency centre's total length of stay was however observed during the COVID-19 period (143 vs. 80 min, p < 0.001). The high proportion (66 %) of patients with suicidal behaviour requiring admissions increased further during the COVID-19 study period, placing an additional burden on inpatient disciplines. The proportion of social worker consultations increased significantly during the COVID-19 period (65% vs. 44 %, p<.05). Conclusion: The COVID-19 pandemic marginally reduced the prevalence of presentations with suicidal behaviour to the Emergency Centre, contrary to what was observed in high-income countries. |
|---|---|
| ISSN: | 2211-419X |