Rates and factors associated with suicide in Kaniyambadi Block, Tamil Nadu, South India, 2000-2002.

Abstract

BACKGROUND:

Inefficient civil registration systems, non-report of deaths, variable standards in certifying death and the legal and social consequences of suicide are major obstacles to investigating suicide in the developing world.

OBJECTIVE:

The aim of this study was to prospectively determine the suicide rate in Kaniyambadi Block, Tamil Nadu, South India, for the years 2000-2002 using verbal autopsies.

METHOD:

The setting for the study was a comprehensive community health programme in a development block in rural South India. The main outcome measure was death by suicide, diagnosed by a detailed verbal autopsy and census, and birth and death data to identify the population base.

RESULTS:

The average suicide rate was 92.1 per 100,000. The ratio of male to female suicides was 1:0.66. The age-specific suicide rate for men increased with age while that for women showed two peaks: 15-24 years and over 65 years of age. Hanging (49%) and poisoning with organo-phosphorus compounds (40.5%) were the commonest methods of committing suicide. Acute and/or chronic stress was elicited for nearly all subjects. More men suffered from chronic stress while more women had acute precipitating events (chi2 = 4.58; p < 0.04). People less than 44 years of age had more acute precipitating events before death while older subjects reported more chronic stress (chi2 = 17.38; p < 0.001).

CONCLUSION:

The study replicates findings of an earlier study from the area. The suicide rate documented in this study is very high and is a major public health concern. There is a need for sentinel centres in India and in developing countries to monitor trends and to develop innovative strategies to reduce deaths by suicide.

• Authors: J Prasad, V J Abraham, S Minz, S Abraham, A Joseph, J P Muliyil, K George, K S Jacob
• Journal: The International journal of social psychiatry (Int J Soc Psychiatry) Vol. 52 Issue 1 Pg. 65-71 (Jan 2006) ISSN: 0020-7640 [Print] England
• PMID: 16463596 (Publication Type: Journal Article, Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't)

Topics

• Adolescent
• Adult
• Age Factors
• Aged
• Autopsy (statistics & numerical data)
• Community Health Services
• Female
• Humans
• India (epidemiology)
• Male
• Poisoning (epidemiology)
• Population Surveillance
• Prospective Studies
• Sex Factors
• Stress, Psychological (epidemiology)
• Suicide (statistics & numerical data, trends)
• Suicide Prevention