Background: Suicide is a cause of avoidable mortality occurring as a result of a self-destructive act done intentionally by a person being aware that it would result in his/her death. Biopsychosocial, environmental or sociocultural risk factors varying with age, gender and geographical distribution can act in different ways in several regions. Objective: To describe geographical trends in suicide rates in Italy over the period 1997-2001. Methods: Death rates were analysed on the basis of age-standardized mortality rates by gender and age (compared with 2001 Italian population), for regions and province. Mortality data, obtained from the Italian Population Register (ISTAT), are based on the ICD-9-CM. Results: Suicides were committed by 20,944 persons (15,849 males and 5,095 females). Males had a higher risk than females (RR=3.11): the mean annual rate per 100,000 was 11.5 male and 3.5 female. Rates showed a downward trend. The most frequent method used is hanging (46%) and firearms (18%) for men and jumping (39%) and hanging (30%) for females. Regional rates were highest in the North (by region, the highest suicide rates was seen in Val d’Aosta, 26.8/100,000 male and 7.6/100,000 female) and in Sardegna (20.8/100,000 only in males), followed by Trentino Alto Adige, Friuli Venezia Giulia, Piemonte (especially in the northern border province), Emilia Romagna, Marche, Umbria with rates between 13.2 and 15.9/100,000 male and between 4.1 and 4.9/100,000 female. The South has the lowest risk in both sexes (8.9/100,000 males, 2.6/100,000 female). Rates increase gradually with age in both sexes and are higher for males, especially among the elderly (over 65). Conclusions: Prevention strategies should be focused on those vulnerable people exposed to a number of risk factors - such as unemployment, social class, isolation, misuse of alcohol, prior suicide attempt, immigrant, previous loss, psychiatric illness, severely stressful life events - acting in a synergistic ways in different regions.

Geographical distribution on suicide mortality in Italy, 1997-2001 / Pucci, Daniela; Paone, M; Mondillo, V; D'Alessandro, Daniela; Fara, Gaetano. - In: EUROPEAN JOURNAL OF PUBLIC HEALTH. - ISSN 1101-1262. - STAMPA. - 16:(2006), pp. 153-153. (Intervento presentato al convegno Politics, policies and/or the public’s health, 14th EUPHA Conference tenutosi a Montreux, Switzerland nel 16-18 November 2006).

Geographical distribution on suicide mortality in Italy, 1997-2001

PUCCI, DANIELA;MONDILLO V;D'ALESSANDRO, Daniela;FARA, Gaetano
2006

Abstract

Background: Suicide is a cause of avoidable mortality occurring as a result of a self-destructive act done intentionally by a person being aware that it would result in his/her death. Biopsychosocial, environmental or sociocultural risk factors varying with age, gender and geographical distribution can act in different ways in several regions. Objective: To describe geographical trends in suicide rates in Italy over the period 1997-2001. Methods: Death rates were analysed on the basis of age-standardized mortality rates by gender and age (compared with 2001 Italian population), for regions and province. Mortality data, obtained from the Italian Population Register (ISTAT), are based on the ICD-9-CM. Results: Suicides were committed by 20,944 persons (15,849 males and 5,095 females). Males had a higher risk than females (RR=3.11): the mean annual rate per 100,000 was 11.5 male and 3.5 female. Rates showed a downward trend. The most frequent method used is hanging (46%) and firearms (18%) for men and jumping (39%) and hanging (30%) for females. Regional rates were highest in the North (by region, the highest suicide rates was seen in Val d’Aosta, 26.8/100,000 male and 7.6/100,000 female) and in Sardegna (20.8/100,000 only in males), followed by Trentino Alto Adige, Friuli Venezia Giulia, Piemonte (especially in the northern border province), Emilia Romagna, Marche, Umbria with rates between 13.2 and 15.9/100,000 male and between 4.1 and 4.9/100,000 female. The South has the lowest risk in both sexes (8.9/100,000 males, 2.6/100,000 female). Rates increase gradually with age in both sexes and are higher for males, especially among the elderly (over 65). Conclusions: Prevention strategies should be focused on those vulnerable people exposed to a number of risk factors - such as unemployment, social class, isolation, misuse of alcohol, prior suicide attempt, immigrant, previous loss, psychiatric illness, severely stressful life events - acting in a synergistic ways in different regions.
2006
Politics, policies and/or the public’s health, 14th EUPHA Conference
suicidi; mortalità, Italia
04 Pubblicazione in atti di convegno::04c Atto di convegno in rivista
Geographical distribution on suicide mortality in Italy, 1997-2001 / Pucci, Daniela; Paone, M; Mondillo, V; D'Alessandro, Daniela; Fara, Gaetano. - In: EUROPEAN JOURNAL OF PUBLIC HEALTH. - ISSN 1101-1262. - STAMPA. - 16:(2006), pp. 153-153. (Intervento presentato al convegno Politics, policies and/or the public’s health, 14th EUPHA Conference tenutosi a Montreux, Switzerland nel 16-18 November 2006).
File allegati a questo prodotto
File Dimensione Formato  
Pucci_Geographical-distribution-suicide_2006.pdf

solo gestori archivio

Tipologia: Versione editoriale (versione pubblicata con il layout dell'editore)
Licenza: Tutti i diritti riservati (All rights reserved)
Dimensione 141.26 kB
Formato Adobe PDF
141.26 kB Adobe PDF   Contatta l'autore

I documenti in IRIS sono protetti da copyright e tutti i diritti sono riservati, salvo diversa indicazione.

Utilizza questo identificativo per citare o creare un link a questo documento: https://hdl.handle.net/11573/13223
Citazioni
  • ???jsp.display-item.citation.pmc??? ND
  • Scopus ND
  • ???jsp.display-item.citation.isi??? 0
social impact