Citation

Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, USA. MMWR Morb. Mortal. Wkly. Rep. 2007; 56(1): 7-9.

Affiliation

Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, CDC, Atlanta, GA, USA.

Copyright

(Copyright © 2007, (in public domain), Publisher U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention)

DOI

unavailable

PMID

17218936

Abstract

Suicide rates among indigenous communities around the world vary substantially; in many nations these groups have the highest suicide risk of any identifiable cultural or ethnic group. Mato Grosso do Sul is a state in the southwest corner of Brazil that borders Bolivia and Paraguay. In 2004, the Guarani, an indigenous ethnic group in the region, accounted for 2.6% of Mato Grosso do Sul's population (approximately 2,230,702). During 1975-2000, the infant mortality rate decreased, and overall life expectancy increased in Mato Grosso do Sul; however, suicide increased as a proportion of overall mortality among the Kaiowa and Nandeva communities of the Guarani­ population. In 2000, the National Health Foundation (FUNASA) of the Brazilian Ministry of Health (BMH) initiated a study of suicide trends and characteristics in these two Guarani communities; data were collected during 2000-2005, and epidemiologic assistance was provided by CDC. This report summarizes the results of that study, which suggested that the suicide rate among Guarani­ was 19 times higher than the national rate in Brazil and 10 times higher than the rate in Mato Grosso do Sul and that suicides disproportionately affected Guarani­ adolescents and young adults. To decrease suicide rates, BMH initiated research and prevention programs among the Guarani, and the Guarani­ initiated measures to increase their economic self-sufficiency.

Language: en