Abstract
Background and objectives: We aim to describe the demographic characteristics associated with suicide in Panama, to estimate the suicide mortality rate and years of potential life lost (YPLL) to suicide, and to explore the correlation of suicide rates with the Multidimensional Poverty Index (MPI). We present a descriptive retrospective epidemiological report of suicide-related mortality (Panama, 2007–2016). Materials and Methods: Data were matched-merged to calculate unadjusted suicide mortality rates (overall, and by sex, age groups, and administrative region), YPLL, and coefficients (r) for the correlation of MPI and suicide rates. Results: There were 1475 deaths by suicide (86% among men, 47% between 20 and 39 years). The average mortality rate was estimated at 3.91 per 100,000 population with an average YPLL rate of 3.79 per 1000 population. There was a statistically significant trend to reduce YPLL over time (r = −0.93; p < 0.001). Exploratory analyses did not show a significant correlation between the MPI and suicide rates. Our study showed a 6:1 male-to-female ratio of suicide, mostly affecting the age groups of 20–29 and over 80 years. Conclusions: Exploratory analyses on the correlation of the MPI and the suicide rates did not achieve statistical significance, and alternative explanations, such as access to pesticides and alcohol, were further explored to inform potential interventions.
Highlights
Suicide—Death caused by self-directed injurious behavior with any intent to die as a result of the behavior—Is a worldwide public health issue [1]
The trend over time of total deaths by suicide in Panama are presented in Figure 1, and Table 1 shows the number of suicide-related deaths by sex and the male-to-female ratio of these cases
2007 and 2016, there were 1475 reports of deaths by suicide in the Republic of Panama, 86% of which were among men and 47% of which occurred between ages 20 and 39
Summary
Suicide—Death caused by self-directed injurious behavior with any intent to die as a result of the behavior—Is a worldwide public health issue [1]. A recent study [4] used 2016 worldwide data to estimate that 817,000 persons committed suicide, representing 1.49% of total deaths with an overall mortality rate of 11.1 per 100,000 population. The age-standardized mortality rate for suicide decreased by 32.7%, in 2016, there was a 6.7% increase in the total number of deaths over the prior 27 years [4]. Conclusions: Exploratory analyses on the correlation of the MPI and the suicide rates did not achieve statistical significance, and alternative explanations, such as access to pesticides and alcohol, were further explored to inform potential interventions
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