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Pattern Analysis of Suicide Mortality Surveillance Data in Urban South Africa
Author(s) -
Burrows Stephanie,
Laflamme Lucie
Publication year - 2008
Publication title -
suicide and life‐threatening behavior
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.544
H-Index - 90
eISSN - 1943-278X
pISSN - 0363-0234
DOI - 10.1521/suli.2008.38.2.209
Subject(s) - geography , suicide methods , suicide prevention , demography , population , race (biology) , poison control , environmental health , descriptive statistics , injury prevention , medical emergency , medicine , socioeconomics , suicide rates , sociology , statistics , gender studies , mathematics
The typical circumstances of suicide occurrence in post‐apartheid urban South Africa are described. Data comprise suicide cases from all geographical locations (urban municipalities) where an injury surveillance system has full coverage. Typical patterns were identified by means of a classification technique applied to eight variables descriptive of the events, their victims, and the suicide level of the cities. Six suicide mortality patterns were identified, most being race‐specific and each associated with particular suicide methods. Preventive strategies should target local communities and specific population subgroups, and be appropriate and responsive to their sociocultural needs.