Suicide in South India: A community-based study in Kerala

Abstract

Background:Studies from Tamil Nadu, South India, have reported the world's highest suicide rates. As per official reports, Kerala, another South Indian state has the highest suicide rate among the major states in India.Objective:The purpose of this analysis is to estimate the rates and age-specific incidence of suicide in a rural community in Kerala, under continuous observation for the last five years.Settings and Design:The study setting comprised of seven contiguous panchayats constituting a development block in Kerala. A prospective cohort study design was used.Materials and Methods:Through regular home visits, every death that occurred in the community was captured by local resident health workers and the cause of death assigned.Statistical Analysis:Suicide rates by age and sex and relative share of suicide deaths to all-cause deaths in men and women were calculated.Results:During the five-year period from 2002 to 2007, 284 cases of suicide were reported. The suicide rates were 44.7/100,000 for males and 26.8/100,000 for females. Male to female suicide ratio was 1.7. Among females aged between 15 and 24, suicides constituted more than 50% of all deaths. Male to female ratio of suicide varied from 0.4 in children aged 14 years or less to 4.5 in the 45-54 year age group.Conclusion:Our analysis shows that the level of under-reporting of suicides in rural Kerala is much less than that reported in Tamil Nadu.

An epidemiological study into risk factors of suicidal ideation and attempt among young and adult population in rural Pondicherry, India

“…This is similar to study conducted in Kerala, Tamil Nadu and also supported by nationally representative survey published in Lancet. 2,11,12 Level of education, occupation, marital status, religion, caste or type of family was not associated with suicidal ideation or attempt in the present study. This is contrary to findings by Narang et al who reported that single men and married women were more at risk of committing suicide.…”

Impact of the Elderly on Household Health Expenditure in Bihar and Kerala, India

“…The suicide rates in Kerala are the highest in the country at 27.7 per 100,000 compared with 0.6 per 100,000 in Bihar (Soman et al 2009). …”

Suicide: An Indian perspective

“…[20] Some studies have estimated the annual suicide rate based on data from smaller samples and using different methods, such as hospital-based samples, longitudinal cohort,[26] emergency service[27] and verbal autopsy[28–32] [Table 1]. Studies using verbal autopsies report that suicide rates are 2-3 times higher than those reported in other studies.…”