Comparative analysis of death by suicide in Brazil and in the United States: descriptive, cross-sectional time series study.

Alexander Abuabara,Carin Albino Luçolli Tonchuk,Allan Abuabara

doi:10.1590/1516-3180.2016.0207091216

Alexander Abuabara, Carin Albino Luçolli Tonchuk + Show 1 more

Open Access

https://doi.org/10.1590/1516-3180.2016.0207091216

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Abstract

The World Health Organization recognizes suicide as a public health priority. Increased knowledge of suicide risk factors is needed in order to be able to adopt effective prevention strategies. The aim of this study was to analyze and compare the association between the Gini coefficient (which is used to measure inequality) and suicide death rates over a 14-year period (2000-2013) in Brazil and in the United States (US). The hypothesis put forward was that reduction of income inequality is accompanied by reduction of suicide rates. Descriptive cross-sectional time-series study in Brazil and in the US. Population, death and suicide death data were extracted from the DATASUS database in Brazil and from the National Center for Health Statistics in the US. Gini coefficient data were obtained from the World Development Indicators. Time series analysis was performed on Brazilian and American official data regarding the number of deaths caused by suicide between 2000 and 2013 and the Gini coefficients of the two countries. The suicide trends were examined and compared. Brazil and the US present converging Gini coefficients, mainly due to reduction of inequality in Brazil over the last decade. However, suicide rates are not converging as hypothesized, but are in fact rising in both countries. The hypothesis that reduction of income inequality is accompanied by reduction of suicide rates was not verified.

Highlights

Suicide is a serious public health problem that needs to be faced openly and in a manner that is as well-informed as possible
The suicide rate in the United States (US) increased by roughly 25%, from 10.4 to 13.0 per 100,000 inhabitants, between 2000 and 2013
The relevance of comparing the Gini coefficient between Brazil and the US may not appear to be scientifically well-founded, this study took into consideration the fact that these countries have converging Gini coefficients, and it was hypothesized that some convergence in the numbers of suicides might be observed

Summary

Introduction

Suicide is a serious public health problem that needs to be faced openly and in a manner that is as well-informed as possible. There is a need to distinguish between the achieved act (suicide) and suicide attempts (unsuccessful). Suicide is the act of deliberately killing oneself. Over the last 45 years, suicide rates have increased by about 60% worldwide.[1] over this period, suicide has become a public health concern. Over 842,000 people die by suicide every year globally, which is a rate of 11.6 per 100,000 individuals per year, or one death somewhere in the world every 40 seconds. Suicide is the 15th largest cause of death for all age groups in the world.[2]

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