Citation

Alvaro-Meca A, Kneib T, Gil-Prieto R, Gil de Miguel A. Public Health 2013; 127(4): 380-385.

Affiliation

Department of Preventive Medicine and Public Health and Medical Immunology and Microbiology, Rey Juan Carlos University, Avd Atenas S/N, 28922 Alcorcón, Madrid, Spain. Electronic address: alejandro.alvaro@urjc.es.

Copyright

(Copyright © 2013, Elsevier Publishing)

DOI

10.1016/j.puhe.2012.12.007

PMID

23375621

Abstract

OBJECTIVE: To analyse the epidemiology of suicide, and compare its occurrence between the sexes and in various regions in Spain. METHOD: Age-specific analysis and spatiotemporal analysis to analyse death by suicide between 1981 and 2008 in Spain. STUDY DESIGN: Ecological study. RESULTS: Death by suicide has decreased since the 1990s in Spain, although peaks in suicides correspond with times of economic crisis. Death by suicide was more common among men than among women, although the suicide mortality rate increased over the study period among women aged 35-49 years. Geographical analysis showed that rural populations and areas with historically higher levels of unemployment have higher suicide rates. In contrast, less-populated regions have lower suicide rates. CONCLUSION: Suicides in Spain exhibit a clear geographic pattern and occur at different rates between the genders. The results suggest an increasing number of suicides among women aged 35-49 years over the study period.

Language: en