Trend in mortality due to suicide in urban and rural areas of Colombia, 1979-2014

Introduction: Suicide is a serious social and public health problem that affects the population of most countries in the world. Differences in suicide rates have been previously described between rural and urban areas. Objective. To study the trend of mortality rates by suicide in Colombia, in rural and urban areas by sex, age group and suicide methods for the period 1979-2014. Materials and methods. We conducted an ecological trend study using death certificates from the National Administrative Department of Statistics. Specific and adjusted mortality rates by age and sex were calculated. We estimated negative binomial and inflection points regression models to study the trends in mortality rates stratified by sex, age group and suicide method. Results. A total of 56,448 suicides were reported in Colombia between 1979-2014. The risk of suicide was higher in urban areas for men; for individuals between 25-44 years and 65 and over; and for those who used hanging as a suicide method. Also, the risk of suicide was higher in the rural area for men between 45-64 years old and men who used firearms, cutting weapons, hanging and others as suicide methods. Trend of suicide rates in urban areas showed its maximum peak in 1999 and the rural ones in 2000, then in the two areas there was a gradual descent. The hanging in the two areas presented a tendency to rise in men. Conclusions. Suicide has shown a tendency toward reduction after the year 2000, with differences between urban and rural areas.