Risk and protective factors for suicide: a populational case-control study, Brazil, 2019.

Area of Science:

• Public Health
• Epidemiology
• Mental Health Research

Background:

• Suicide remains a significant public health concern globally and in Brazil.
• Understanding specific risk and protective factors is crucial for targeted prevention strategies.
• Campinas, Brazil, with a population of approximately 1.2 million, provides a relevant context for this epidemiological study.

Purpose of the Study:

• To identify and quantify sociodemographic and behavioral risk and protection factors associated with suicide in Campinas, Brazil.
• To provide data that can inform public health interventions and suicide prevention programs.
• To analyze the interplay of personal, social, and economic determinants of suicide.

Main Methods:

• A population-based case-control study design was employed.
• Data included 83 suicide cases and 716 controls from Campinas in 2019.
• Adjusted multiple logistic regression analysis was used to determine odds ratios (OR) for various factors.

Main Results:

• Significant risk factors for suicide included male gender [OR=5.26], ages 10-29 years [OR=5.88], unemployment [OR=3.06], problematic alcohol use [OR=33.12], cocaine use [OR=14.59], and disabilities [OR=3.72].
• Perceived fear was a protective factor [OR=0.19].
• Higher district Human Development Index (HDI) levels were associated with decreased suicide risk [OR=0.02 per 0.01 increase].

Conclusions:

• Sociodemographic and behavioral variables are strongly associated with suicide risk in Campinas.
• The study highlights the complex interplay of individual, social, and economic factors contributing to suicide.
• Findings underscore the need for comprehensive prevention strategies addressing identified risk and protective factors.