Analyzing the Association of Gender-Based Violence on National Suicide Rates - A Multinational Ecological Study

Area of Science:

• Public Health
• Epidemiology
• Sociology

Background:

• Gender-based violence (GBV) is a global issue affecting women across all demographics.
• Existing research suggests a link between GBV experiences and increased risk of psychiatric disorders and suicidal behavior.
• Multinational ecological studies on GBV and suicide rates are limited.

Purpose of the Study:

• To investigate the association between the degree of reported gender-based violence (GBV) and female suicide rates.
• To conduct a multinational ecological analysis within the WHO European Region.

Main Methods:

• Utilized cross-sectional national-level data from 37 countries in the WHO European Region.
• Employed spline-based regression models to analyze the Violence against Women Index (VAWI) and female suicide rates.
• Controlled for covariates including male suicide rate, GDP per capita, unemployment, age, mental health beds, and crime rates.

Main Results:

• A significant U-shaped association was found between VAWI and female suicide rates (p = .007).
• A negative association was observed at lower VAWI scores (0-0.16), reversing to a positive association above an inflection point (around 0.17).
• Male suicide rate (p < .001) and GDP (p = .04) were also significantly associated with total VAWI scores.

Conclusions:

• This study reveals a nonlinear relationship between GBV and female suicide rates, with a positive association emerging at moderate to higher levels of GBV.
• Highlights the urgent need for improved GBV data collection and reduced stigma surrounding GBV reporting and help-seeking.
• Emphasizes the critical public health implications of addressing gender-based violence to prevent female suicides.