Association Between Adolescent Suicide and Sociodemographic Factors in Chile Cross-Sectional Ecological Study
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Date
2015
Journal Title
Journal ISSN
Volume Title
Publisher
HOGREFE & HUBER PUBLISHERS
Abstract
Background: Adolescent suicide rates (ASR) are a matter of concern worldwide. Causes of this trend are not understood and could correspond to socioeconomic factors such as inequality. Aim: To investigate sociodemographic variables related to ASR, particularly the potential association with indicators of socioeconomic inequality. Method: Cross-sectional ecological study analyzing data from 29 health districts with univariate and multivariable multilevel Poisson models. Results: ASR were higher in male adolescents and at increasing age. No association was found between ASR and inequality (Gini coefficient and 20/20 ratio). Analysis revealed that living in a single-parent family is associated with ASR. Conclusions: The usual demographic patterns of adolescent suicide apply in Chile. An emerging variable of interest is single-parent family. No cross-sectional association between social inequality and ASR was found based on conflicting evidence. These results should be explored in future prospective population studies to further understand associated social factors.
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Keywords
youth suicide, income inequality, social epidemiology, social determinants of health, INCOME INEQUALITY, SOCIAL DETERMINANTS, SOCIOECONOMIC INEQUALITIES, HEALTH, MORTALITY, POPULATION, MULTILEVEL, BEHAVIOR, CHILDREN, EQUITY