Browsing by Author "Pieterse, Deirdre"

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    Factors associated with deliberate self-harm method among patients in a tertiary hospital in South Africa
    (2018) Pieterse, Deirdre; Hoare, Jacqueline; Louw, Kerry-Ann
    Background: Hospital-based research provides important insight into the burden of suicide behaviour and methods used in deliberate self-harm (DSH). The information on methods used in DSH may be useful to plan suicide-related intervention and prevention programmes. We aimed to investigate the socio-demographic and clinical factors associated with the methods used in DSH at a tertiary hospital in Cape Town, South Africa. Methods: Socio-demographic, clinical and treatment data were collected from 238 consecutive DSH patients who presented for emergency department treatment at the hospital. Univariate analyses and a logistic regression model were used to explore the associations between these variables and violent and non-violent method of DSH. Results: Self-poisoning was the most common method of self-harm (80.3%, n=191). Prescription medication was the most common form of self-poison (57.6%, n=137) while a large number of patients used the non-prescription medication paracetamol (40.9%, n=54). In the bivariate regression analysis, male gender, stating that the reason for DSH was to escape a situation and history of substance use were associated with violent method of DSH. Conclusion: This study contributes to emerging literature on methods used in DSH in South Africa. There is an urgent need to improve monitoring of prescription medication commonly used in DSH. More research on the source of prescription medication and its relationship to DSH is needed. Limiting the quantity and reviewing the packaging of paracetamol available in supermarkets may be effective strategies of means restriction that could be adopted in South Africa. This study underscores the need for increased collaboration between the Department of Social Development and the Department of Health in providing substance use interventions to high-risk population groups.
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    Psychiatric disorders and suicidal behaviour in patients seen at a transgender clinic in Cape Town, South Africa
    (2023) Dangor, Fatima; Pieterse, Deirdre
    Background: International research indicates that due to the impact of stigma, marginalisation and discrimination, transgender individuals are a vulnerable population at risk of psychiatric disorders and suicidal behaviour. Despite this, there is a lack of research on the prevalence of mental health conditions and suicidal behaviour amongst transgender individuals in South Africa. Aim: To assess the prevalence of psychiatric disorders and suicidal behaviour in transgender individuals seen at the Transgender Clinic at Groote Schuur Hospital. To provide an improved understanding of the mental health needs of individuals attending the TGC. Setting: This study was conducted at the multidisciplinary Transgender Clinic at Groote Schuur Hospital, South Africa. Methods: The study was a retrospective folder review of individuals attending the clinic from November 2018 until December 2019. Results: 44 individuals attended the clinic during the study, all of which were included in the analysis. Depression was the most commonly self-reported symptom (n=13, 29.5%). Other common symptoms included those of panic and generalised anxiety (n=10, 22.7%). After assessment at the TGC, thirty-one (70.5%) individuals met the criteria for a psychiatric disorder. Mood disorders were the most common DSM–5 diagnoses (n=28, 63.6%). Thirteen (41.9%) individuals with a current psychiatric disorder were on treatment. Almost three-quarters of the individuals (n=32, 72.7%) reported alcohol consumption, of which only 2 individuals (4.5%) reported regular daily consumption. Twenty-one individuals were tobacco smokers (47.7%), and approximately one-third used cannabis (n=16, 36.4%). Eighteen (40.9%) individuals reported suicidal behaviour, and fourteen (31.8%) non-suicidal self-injury. ix Conclusion: Transgender individuals attending the GSH Transgender Clinic had a high prevalence of psychiatric disorders and suicidal behaviour. Our improved understanding of the mental health needs of individuals attending the Transgender Clinic will better inform future gender affirming care. Keywords: gender non-conforming; mental health; non-suicidal self-injury; psychiatric disorders; South Africa; suicidal behaviour; transgender