Suicide mortality trend in Argentina between 1990 and 2019

Abstract

INTRODUCTION: Suicides are a type of violence. Globally 703,000 suicides occur each year, representing one of the leading causes of death. The Americas is the only region showing an upward trend. In Argentina there are no extensive time series studies of suicide. The objective was to analyze the suicide mortality trends in Argentina between 1990 and 2019. METHODS: An ecological study was carried out with secondary sources of information. Absolute and relative frequencies, and rates were estimated. The joinpoint regression model was used to analyze trends. For the comparison of rates, the method of comparison of proportions was used with a significance level of 95%. RESULTS: Between 1990 and 2019 there were 85,189 suicides. The masculinity ratio was 3.8 men for every woman. The rates ranged from 6.1 to 8.7 deaths per 100,000 inhabitants. The highest suicide rate in both sexes and men was observed in 2003. In women, it was in 2002 and 2003. Between 2001 and 2019 there was a significant downward trend in both sexes. The frequency of deaths and the cumulative rates showed increases, regardless of the slope of the trend. DISCUSSION: The increases in suicides are consistent with what was observed in the Americas. Although the trend analysis presents a downward trend in recent years, the cumulative rates and the average number of cases show increases in suicides. The analysis of longer time series and a comparison in grouped periods are recommended.