Influence of socio-economic crisis on epidemiological characteristic of suicide in the region of Nis (southeastern part of Serbia, Yugoslavia).

Abstract

It is well known that gross social crises greatly influence the change in epidemiological features of suicide. The aim of this study is to determine whether the social-economic crisis in Yugoslavia influenced the change in epidemiological features of suicide in the region of Nis (southeastern Serbia). The material included death certificates for 1987-1999. The rates were calculated per 100,000 inhabitants (1991 Census) and standardization was performed by direct method (Segi's world population was used as standard population). Generally, trends for suicide rates in the region of Nis from 1987 to 1999 have decreasing tendency among both sexes. The average annual suicide rate in the region during the period 1987/1989 (relatively economically and politically stable) was 14.8 among males, and 6.8 among females. In 1999 (maximum influence of socio-economical and political crisis) suicide rate among males was 13.8 and among females it was 3.7. The decrease in suicide rate in females can be observed in all age groups, and in males in the age groups 15-29 and 50-64. During 1999, compared to 1987/1989, the increase in the number of suicides is perceived in the summer months (1999 -41.5%; 95% CI: 30.8-52.2%; 1987/ 1989 -23.8%; 95% CI: 18.9-28.7%), as well as the decrease of suicide on Monday (1987/1989 -21.2%; 95% CI: 16.2-26.1%; 1999 -9.8%; 95% CI: 3.4 16.2%). During 1999 the rate of suicides committed by fire arms increased (from 8.1 to 14.5%), while there was a decrease in poisoning, in both males (from 26.3 to 9.7%; p < 0.05) and females (from 39.1 to 10.0%; p < 0.05). During 1999 significant changes in epidemiological features of suicide were registered, compared to 1987/1989. These changes were probably enhanced by changed socio-economic factors (primarily war action and the bombing of Serbia, as well as the decline of standard of living and other aspects of economic and political crisis), which requires additional, more complete and thorough research.