Epidemiologic Characteristics of Suicide in Panama, 2007–2016

Abstract

Background and objectives: We aim to describe the demographic characteristics associated with suicide in Panama, to estimate the suicide mortality rate and years of potential life lost (YPLL) to suicide, and to explore the correlation of suicide rates with the Multidimensional Poverty Index (MPI). We present a descriptive retrospective epidemiological report of suicide-related mortality (Panama, 2007–2016). Materials and Methods: Data were matched-merged to calculate unadjusted suicide mortality rates (overall, and by sex, age groups, and administrative region), YPLL, and coefficients (r) for the correlation of MPI and suicide rates. Results: There were 1475 deaths by suicide (86% among men, 47% between 20 and 39 years). The average mortality rate was estimated at 3.91 per 100,000 population with an average YPLL rate of 3.79 per 1000 population. There was a statistically significant trend to reduce YPLL over time (r = −0.93; p< 0.001). Exploratory analyses did not show a significant correlation between the MPI and suicide rates. Our study showed a 6:1 male-to-female ratio of suicide, mostly affecting the age groups of 20–29 and over 80 years. Conclusions: Exploratory analyses on the correlation of the MPI and the suicide rates did not achieve statistical significance, and alternative explanations, such as access to pesticides and alcohol, were further explored to inform potential interventions.

Socio-Demographic Profile of Suicidal Cases Autopsied at Tertiary Care Centre in Uttarakhand: A Retrospective Study

“…al. found similar results with 86% men of the total victims and the ratio between men: women were 6:1 (6) Suicidal attempts were higher in females but the rate of complete suicide was comparatively higher in males . (9) Conversely, suicide was more common among males but suicidal behavior was more common among females.…”

“…found 20-29 years as the most affected age group. (6) A systematic review showed an overallhigh prevalence of suicide rates in the 20-29 years age group but females were predominant in committing suicides for age-group under 30 years whereas males were leading for age group 30 years or older. (13) Regarding the area of population more vulnerable to suicides, urban population reported more deaths compared to rural.…”

Suicidal deaths: A three years autopsy based study

“…A study by Nunez et al found similar results with 86% men of the total victims and the ratio between men: women were 6:1. 11 Suicidal attempts were higher in females but the rate of complete suicide was comparatively higher in males. 12 Conversely, suicide was more common among males but suicidal behavior was more common among females.…”

“…10 Nunez-Samudio V et al found 20-29 years as the most affected age group. 11 A systematic review showed an overall high prevalence of suicide rates in the 20-29 years age group but females were predominant in committing suicides for age-group under 30 years whereas males were leading for age group 30 years or older. 15 India's contribution to the global suicide rate has increased from 25.3% in 1990 to 36.6% in 2016 among women and from 18.7% to 24.3% among men.…”

La mortalidad por suicidio en las poblaciones masculinas joven, adulta y adulta mayor en ocho países de Latinoamérica y el Caribe

“…La OPS estima que en 2005-2009 en América Latina y el Caribe la tasa estandarizada de mortalidad por suicidio de la población masculina fue 8.39 defunciones por 100,000 hombres, para la población femenina de 2.12 por 100,000 mujeres (OPS, 2014, p. 14) y que para la población total suceden alrededor de 4 suicidios de hombres por cada suicidio femenino, cifra que aumenta al considerar al grupo de 70 años o más con 7.8 suicidios masculinos por cada uno femenino y entre 6 y 8 suicidios masculinos por cada uno femenino al llegar a los 80 años (Martini et al, 2019;Núñez-Samudio et al, 2020;OPS, 2014, p. 19). En América Latina y el Caribe, la mortalidad por suicidio también muestra un patrón diferenciado por edad entre hombres: en el grupo de 20 a 24 años esta causa de muerte corresponde al 7% del total de las defunciones por causas externas, mientras que en la población masculina de 60 a 69 años dicha proporción es 10.8% (OPS, 2014, p. 17).…”