Risk factors for suicide in rural Italy: a case-control study
Michele Arcangelo Martiello1, Giuseppe Boncompagni2, Davide Lacangellera3
1Psychiatry Core Training, East London NHS Foundation Trust, London, UK. michele.martiello@nhs.net.
Social Psychiatry and Psychiatric Epidemiology
|November 22, 2018
Summary
Suicide risk factors in rural Tuscany include psychiatric issues and living alone, with religion being protective. Prevention must address both clinical and socio-economic factors.
Area of Science:
- Epidemiology
- Public Health
- Psychiatry
Background:
- Tuscany has seen increased suicide rates in rural areas since the 1970s.
- Understanding specific risk factors is crucial for targeted prevention strategies.
Purpose of the Study:
- To identify major individual risk factors associated with suicide in six rural districts of Tuscany.
- To inform public health interventions for suicide prevention in similar demographics.
Main Methods:
- A case-control study involving 128 suicide cases and matched controls (age, sex, general practice).
- Data collected from General Practitioners (GPs) via structured questionnaires.
- Univariate and multivariate regression analyses were performed to assess risk factor associations.
Main Results:
- Psychiatric pathology (OR 8.87) and living alone (OR 2.30) were independently significant risk factors for suicide.
- Other identified risk factors included low income, not being married, and family history of psychiatric issues.
- Practicing religion was the only identified protective factor (OR 0.27).
Conclusions:
- Suicide is not solely linked to psychiatric pathology; socio-economic factors play a significant role.
- Prevention strategies should integrate interventions for both clinical and socio-economic risk factors.
- Targeted approaches are needed for rural populations with elevated suicide rates.
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