Abstract

MUNOZ MORALES, Édgar Jhonny  and  GUTIERREZ MARTINEZ, María Isabel. Risk Factors for Suicide in Nariño, Colombia: A Matched Case-Control Study. rev.colomb.psiquiatr. [online]. 2010, vol.39, n.2, pp.291-312. ISSN 0034-7450.

Introduction: The WHO has estimated that approximately 1,53 millions of suicidal events and more than 10 to 20 times of suicide attempts will occurred by 2020 worldwide. Sustained rates of suicide exceeding the national average of 55% of these deaths mainly occurred in young people between 15 and 24 years, in the Department of Narino. This differs from the international pattern where suicide is predominantly in older adults. Objective: To determine individual, family related and social factors associated with the occurrence of suicide in the Department of Narino. Methods: A matched case-control study. A sample of 101 individuals, who committed suicide (cases), and 112 deaths from unintentional injury (controls), were matched for age, municipality of residence and date of suicide. The information for both (cases and controls) was collected from the nearest relative. A structured questionnaire -includes the psychological autopsy technique and screening of major psychiatric syndromes (depression, anxiety, psychosis, and psychoactive substance was used). Results: In the study sample, 70% of both cases and controls were male. When examine the conditional logistic regression model, Lack of religious practice, under 11 years of formal education, previous mental disease diagnosis, previous suicide attempt, presence of acute stress, and depression, are remained independent significant predictors to the effect on risk of suicide. Conclusions and Recommendations: This analytical study is one of the kind developed in Colombia. This study provided evidence to develop a municipal youth suicide prevention program in Pasto, Nariño.

Keywords : Suicide; case-control studies; vulnerable populations; psychological stress.

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