Characterization of suicides in the Seridó region of the state of Rio Grande do Sul: A time series study

Abstract

Objective: To analyze suicide cases from 2000 to 2015 in the seridó region of Rio Grande do Norte, Rio Grande do Norte, Brazil. Methods: This is an epidemiological, ecological and time-series study, developed in the 4th health region of the state of Rio Grande do Norte. The study population consisted of suicide cases that occurred in the region in the time series. In the researched databases, information was collected regarding: socio-demographic characteristics, number of deaths due to suicide, number of inhabitants per municipality, and the human development index. The data were analyzed using descriptive statistics by reading the absolute (n) and relative (%) frequencies, as well as the suicide mortality rate. Results: A total of 397 cases of suicide were identified in the period, with a mean age of 43.7± 18.9 years; most were male (82.1%); young adults (38.48%); white skin color (48%); single people (48%) and farmers (30.27%), in addition to hanging as the most used method (79%). Conclusion: The profile of suicides in the Seridó region of Rio Grande do Sul is very similar to what is already known in the national and international literature. However, the figure of the single male farmer as the main actor identified points to the importance of further studies on the phenomenon, in order to support regional public policies in suicide prevention, directed to these workers and inserting them in psychosocial care networks.

DOI:https://doi.org/10.56238/sevened2024.006-010