Incidence of suicide in East Azerbaijan Province, Iran

Background: Suicide is a major problem world-wide. The aim of the present study was toetermine the incidence of suicide in East Azerbaijan province, Iran.Methods: The study used collected data from the Systematic registration within East Azerbaijanprovince from ۲۰۱۰ to ۲۰۱۱. We analysed some characteristics of the cases of suicide based on thehealth system database. Variables such as demographics, outcomes (fatal/nonfatal), and methodsused were recorded. Data was analysed using Chi-square and T-test.Results: A total of ۳,۷۶۸ reported cases of suicide were analysed. More cases were reportedfrom married people. The incidence rate of suicide was ۱۰۱.۳ per ۱۰۰,۰۰۰. Most of the attemptedsuicides were observed in younger people. The number of attempted suicides was higher inwomen (۶۳.۷%) than in men (۳۶.۳%). The most frequent method of commiting suicide in bothsexes was drug overdose. A statistically significant relationship was observed between suicide’soutcome and gender, job, marital status, and education (P<۰.۰۰۱). The case fatality rate amongmales was significantly higher than that in females (OR=۳.۷, ۹۵% CI: ۲.۵–۵.۸). Hanging (۷۲.۳%)and drug overdose (۰.۹%) had respectively the highest and the lowest case fatality rates. Drugoverdose was slightly more frequent among women than in men (۹۱.۳% versus ۸۴.۲%). The rateof poisoning increased gradually until the age-group ۴۵-۵۴ years. Also, drug overdose was moreprevalent among single individuals than in married people.Conclusion: Due to the high incidence of completed suicides, it is recommended that counsellingcentres be established for mental ill-health, especially a suicide hotline with appropriate availabilityto all population.

Keywords:

Attempted suicide , Completed suicide , Epidemiology , Incidence