Awareness and attitudes of prescribing pre-exposure prophylaxis for HIV prevention among medical providers in Guatemala: Implications for country-wide implementation

: 2.052_NEP The relationship between social and institutional gender inequality and suicide rates of young women across the globe A. Pugh, J. Contreras, B. Kneable, S. Talboys Background: This study seeks to analyze the relationship between suicide rates of young women around the world. The Social Index and Gender Index, or SIGI, offers a measure of the upstream social and structural inequalities in world countries. We seek to discover the areas of discrimination against women that are significantly correlated to the prevalence of female suicide. Methods: We investigated the relationship between suicide rates of women 15-29 around the world and the relative gender discrimination experienced in their country as rated by the SIGI. This is an ecological study at the country-level using publicly available data from the WHO on suicide rates and the OECD’s SIGI data from 2012. We examined the bivariate correlations of between suicide and SIGI composite and sub-component measures using robust regression models and used Spearman rank correlation coefficient. Findings: The female suicide ratio (to males) was positively correlated with the SIGI (0.72 (0.21-1.24) p1⁄40.006) and all of its subcomponents except physical integrity. Sub-component correlations included family code (0.67 (0.24-1.11) 0.003), physical integrity (0.01 (-0.23-0.24) 0.958), son bias (0.92 (0.38-1.46) 0.001), access to resources (0.29 (0.05-0.53) 0.019) and civil liberties (0.22 (0.030.42) 0.024). Secondly, we found a significant negative correlation with SIGI and male suicide rate (-12.19 (-23.93d0.44) 0.04), but no correlation for female suicide rates. Interpretation: It’s important to consider the role of gender inequalities and suicide in order to understand the effect that gender discrimination may have on women’s mental health and how severe that impact can be. The findings do not show direct causation but do offer findings that merit further study and a deeper depth of understanding. These findings may explain the negative impact that discrimination in family code and son bias can have on women’s health. Asia may have a high ratio of female to male suicide in part because of their problems with son bias and family discrimination.