Trend and factors influencing suicides in rural areas of Kermanshah (in Iran) during 7 years (2000-2006)

摘要

Background: suicide is a serious public health problem in many provinces in Iran such as Kermanshah province. Objective(s): to determine the incidence of suicide & its trend among kermanshah rural population and its risk factors. Methods: In this descriptive cross-sectional study, all cases of attempted suicide over a period of 7 years (2000-2006) have been investigated. There were a total number of 239 suicides, and we recorded data on age and job groups, sex, season of attempt, applied methods for suicide and its consequences. Results: The findings showed that the incidence rate of suicide was 22 per 100.000.68.8% of cases were females. The most job group of female was housewife (98.2%) and in males were those whose jobs were related to agriculture and animal husbandry (31.4%). In both genders, the age group 20-29 accounted for most cases (45.2%). The seasonal patterns of suicide were different for males and females, in women the most suicides were occurred in spring (33.5%) and for men in autumn (33.3%). The study indicates that the preferred suicide method for women wasself-burning (65.8%) and for men were poisoning and hanging (29.3% for each of them). The Suicide consequences were as followed: 89.1% were died, 8.8% were recovered and 1.3% were disabled. 87.8 percent of women and 92 percent of men, whom were inspected, had completed suicide. Conclusion: Studying of this process in rural areas of Kermanshah had shown a downward trend from years 2000 to 2006. It means that the mental health plans-and interventions were carried out by PHC system could reduce high Suicide rate in Kermanshah rural areas. The high Percentage of suicide in rural areas indicated that it should be a warning for health policy and for decision makers to pay more attention to suicide prevention programs. It also requires intervention of other Sectors. It calls for an innovative, comprehensive, multisectoral approach including, both health and non-health sectors (e.g. education, police, justice, religion, law, politics, the media, etc). We found a higher percentage of completed suicide in rural women, different seasonal pattern and preferred suicide methods in both sexes in rural areas of Kermanshah in comparison with national-and international patterns.