Citation

Parker G, Yap HL. Singapore Med. J. 2001; 42(1): 11-14.

Affiliation

Institute of Mental Health, Woodbridge Hospital, Singapore.

Copyright

(Copyright © 2001, Singapore Medical Association)

DOI

unavailable

PMID

11361231

Abstract

AIM OF STUDY: To examine for any change in the sex ratio of suicides in Singapore over the last decade. METHODS: Data on suicides in Singapore for the decade 1989-98 were examined, both as an overall set and as four age-based sub-groups. RESULTS: The male to female ratio increased significantly over the decade, contributed to most distinctly by changed rates in young adults (ie a group defined as 29-40 years). The changed sex ratio appeared limited to Chinese subjects, where the suicide rate/100,000 population was consistently higher than for the non-Chinese. The changed ratio appeared more to reflect an absolute decrease in female suicides rather than any distinct absolute increase in male suicides. CONCLUSIONS: The previous distinct male preponderance in suicide,which had progressively diminished by the early eighties, has become distinct again, but is now seemingly more driven by a disproportionate decline in the absolute rate of suicides in younger females. We speculate on possible social determinants of this intriguing epidemiological trend.

Language: en