Citation

Ortega PA, Manrique RD, Tovilla Zarate CA, López Jaramillo C, Cuartas JM. Rev. Colomb. Psiquiatr. 2014; 43(2): 106-112.

Copyright

(Copyright © 2014, Sociedad Colombiana De Psiquiatria)

DOI

10.1016/j.rcp.2014.02.006

PMID

unavailable

Abstract

Background The purpose of this study was to identify the characteristics of individuals who committed suicide in Medellín between 2008 and 2010, and to identify variables related to the type of events.

METHODS A retrospective and descriptive analysis was conducted on data provided by the National Institute of Legal Medicine and Forensic Sciences. In addition, a univariate and bivariate analysis was used to identify the sociodemographic and medical-legal characteristics of the deceased. Multiple correspondence analysis was also used in order to establish typologies. The information was analyzed using STATA 11.0.

RESULTS Of the 389 cases occurring between 2008 and 2010, 84.6% (n = 329) were men. The male to female ratio was 5:1; 64% of the cases occurred in people aged 18-45 years; 6.7% occurred in children under 18, with hanging being the method most chosen by the victims (48.3%). Exploratory analysis was used to identify a possible association between the use of violent methods and events occurring in the housing and social strata 1, 2 and 3.

CONCLUSIONS Some factors could be associated with suicide, providing data that could consolidate health intervention strategies in our population. © 2013 Asociación Colombiana de Psiquiatría © 2013 Asociación Colombiana de Psiquiatría. Published by Elsevier España, S.L. All rights reserved.

Language: en

Keywords

adult; human; violence; Colombia; suicide; Suicide; female; male; forensic medicine; hanging; information; housing; article; major clinical study; victim; social aspect; demography; population; medical record review; exploratory research; correspondence analysis; Medellín; Multifactorial etiology; Sociodemographic characteristics