Outcome of Rodenticide Poisoning and Its Associated Factors Among Adult Patients Admitted with Rodenticide Poisoning at the Emergency Unit of Debre Tabor Comprehensive Specialized Hospital, Debre Tabor, North Central Ethiopia

Abstract

Introduction

Rodenticides are pesticides used to eradicate rodents. It is a common reason for visits to the emergency department and hospitalization, and it is a major public health concern. Intentional or unintentional intoxication can result in severe consequences with a high fatality rate. In Ethiopia, studies on the outcome of rodenticide poisoning are scarce. The goal of this study was to assess the outcomes of rodenticide poisoning and its associated factors in adult patients admitted to the emergency unit of Debre Tabor Comprehensive Specialized Hospital in North Central Ethiopia.

Methods

A retrospective record review institutional-based cross-sectional study design was used on 156 adult patients treated with rodenticide poisoning at Debre Tabor Comprehensive Specialized Hospital’s emergency unit between May 1, 2017 and April 30, 2022. To collect data from patient medical documents and the Health Management Information System, an abstraction sheet was employed. The information was entered into EPI data version 4.6, then exported and analyzed using STATA version 14 software. To analyze the relationship between the dependent and independent variables, bivariable and multivariable regression were used.

Results

A total of 156 participants were involved in the study. The majority of them 55.13% were in the age group of 19–37 years with the median age of 23 years. Three-fourth of the cases were suicidal poisoning. Overall, 49.35% patients presented to Debre Tabor Specialized Hospital had poor outcome. Having suicidal poisoning (AOR = 10.64; 95% CI: 2.43, 46.53), having tachycardia (AOR = 5.41; 95% CI: 1.54, 18.98), being referred from other health center (AOR = 5.78; 95% CI: 1.97, 16.95) were factors associated with poor outcome.

Conclusion

Rodenticide poisoning had a poor overall outcome. Suicidal poisoning, tachycardia, and referral from other health facilities were all important predictors in poor rodenticide poisoning outcomes.

Keywords:

• rodenticide
• poisoning
• emergency

Abbreviations

AlP, aluminum phosphide; AAIPP, acute aluminum phosphide poisoning; AKI, acute kidney injury; AOR, adjusted odds ratio; CI, confidence interval; DTCSH, Debre Tabor Comprehensive Specialized Hospital; INR, International Normalized Ratio; ICU, intensive care unit; PT, prothrombin time; RR, relative risk; WHO, World Health Organization; ZnP, zinc phosphide.

Data Sharing Statement

The datasets used and/or analyzed during the current study are available from the corresponding author on reasonable request.

Ethics Approval and Consent to Participate

The study was approved by the ethical review committee at Debre Tabor University’s college of health science with the ethical approval number 3547. Following that, an official approval letter was received from DTCSH authorities. Because this is a retrospective medical record study, patient informed permission was waived, and personal identifiers such as name and medical registration number were not included, as approved by Debre Tabor University’s College of Health Science ethical review committee. The study was conducted per the declaration of Helsinki. The information was kept completely confidential and was only used for research purposes.

Acknowledgments

We would like to thank Debre Tabor University’s College of Health Sciences for allowing us to conduct this study. We would also like to thank DTCSH for providing us with a permission letter to perform the study, as well as hospital administrators, emergency unit, and patient medical record room staff members for their cooperation in carrying out the study.

Author Contributions

All authors made a significant contribution to the work reported, whether that is in the conception, study design, execution, acquisition of data, analysis and interpretation, or in all these areas; took part in drafting, revising or critically reviewing the article; gave final approval of the version to be published; have agreed on the journal to which the article has been submitted; and agree to be accountable for all aspects of the work.

Disclosure

The authors declare that they have no competing interests.

Additional information

Funding

Debre Tabor University provided financial assistance for this study, from proposal development to report writing. Otherwise, the research would not have been funded for publication.