A Study on Standard of Living Index (SLI) and its Influence on Rural Area Self-Poisoning Practices, Knowledge of First AID and Prevailing Traditional Practices in Rural Area of Hassan District, Karnataka (Cross-Sectional Study)
DOI:
https://doi.org/10.37506/ijphrd.v12i2.14093Keywords:
Self-harm, pesticide poisoning, first AID, Standard of living index (SLI)Abstract
Suicide by pesticide poisoning consumption among young and old is preventable. More so in India, since
larger population are involved in agriculture and its rampant usage for their cultivation. Also, due to weaker
India’s public health infrastructure and prevailing folk medicine practices, makes all the more difficult to
save victims and it seems add in to huge burden.
Objectives: To estimate pattern of self-poisoning, first AID usage and folk medicine practices influenced
by their standard of living.
Method: Four primary health centre (PHCs) villages of Hassan taluk were selected by simple random
sampling and every fifth houses were considered as study subjects (159). To assess their socio-economic
situation, standard of living index (SLI) comprising of their basic amenities was adopted to understand its
influence on self-poisoning practices.
Results: The mean age of males were 44.23 (95 % CI 39.53 to 48.94) with SD (17.57) and females were
37.40 (95% CI 34.78 to 40.02) with SD (13.41). Traditional medicine (folk medicine) (125/78.6%) was
practicing for their immediate self-harm (poison) relief. More than 98% respondents told that they do not
have any idea or training towards first AID. 23% in higher living index said victim must be put on their
back (p<0.05) for recovery. In logit model, predictors showed odds ratio that favoured an increase of risk for
poison consumption for every one unit of increase of their education status and family members respectively-
(OR 1.182, 95% CI 0.795-1.956; OR 1.081, 95% CI 0.438-2.666).
Conclusion: Neither first AID techniques were taught or put into practice which is imperative for life saving.
Middle level study subjects were willing to involve themselves in first AID compared to higher class. Many
people do not recognize colour marked symbols on pesticide bottle labels as an indicator of poison.