Characterization of suicide in adolescents in the Quindio Department, Colombia, 1989-2013

Abstract

Introduction: Suicide is considered a serious public health problem, which claims an important number of lives all over the world.
Objective: To characterize suicide in adolescents living in the Quindio Department of Colombia, from 1989 to 2013.
Material and methods: An observational descriptive research was conducted, using data from death certificates compiled by the National Administrative Department of Statistics commonly referred to as DANE in the Republic of Colombia. Proportions were calculated for person, time and place variables. Population projections for DANE were used to establish mortality rates. 
Results: 158 suicides in adolescents occurred during the time period from 1989-2013 in the Quindio Department.  The 67, 7% of the persons that committed suicide were male, 82,9 of them were single, the 39,9% of them used  hanging as the method of suicide, and the 13,3% of the cases occurred in December.  The suicide rate was 6,7 for every 100,000 inhabitants (9,0 for men, and  4,3 for women).  1999-2003 was the five year’s time that registered the highest rates with 10,0 suicides for every 100,000 adolescents. In municipalities, he highest risk was registered in Quimbaya and Pijao with 30,8 and  23,4 suicides for every 100,000 adolescents, respectively.
Conclusions:The highest prevalence of suicide was found in single men from the urban area, at home, in December, and hanging was the most common method used for suicide. In five year times, the highest rates were registered from 1999-2003, period in which an earthquake occurred in the zone.  At a municipal level, the highest rates were found in Quimbaya and Pijao, which suggests the need of a greater intervention and investigation.

Keywords:adolescent, Colombia, risk factors, mortality, suicide.