Suicide patterns in the most populous region of Alagoas, Brazil, 2016-2018Objective: To describe the patterns of suicide, relating them to sociodemographic, spatial-temporal and suicide-related aspects in the most populous region of the state of Alagoas (AL), Brazil.
Methods: Observational and retrospective study based on suicide data from the Instituto Médico Legal located in Maceió (AL), covering the years between 2016 and 2018. Through binary and multiple logistic regression, a statistical model was determined to identify factors associated with suicide between men and women.
Results: From the overall number of reported suicides (n = 172), 71.5% were male victims. The mean age for men was 39.3 years and 34.1 for women. The final logistic regression model identified that black/brown men are 12 times more likely (p < 0.001) to commit suicide than white men. In addition, men are less likely to commit suicide by exogenous intoxication (p < 0.001) or intentional fall (p = 0.01) than by hanging. Men in employment were more likely to commit suicide (p = 0.02).
Conclusions: Despite the complexity of the phenomenon under study, it was possible to verify some patterns for the most populous region of the state of Alagoas. The pattern of suicide in the state followed the national scenario, affecting men, adults, young people of black ethnicity (black/brown) in employment, in addition to hanging as the standard mechanism among men. The present study could be the basis for planning interventions focused on preventing the phenomenon, focusing on the determinants of suicide.
KEYWORDS
Epidemiology; self-injurious behaviour; suicidal ideation; suicide prevention; suicide