Characteristics of suicide deaths in the southern territory of Ciego de Ávila in the quinquennium 2013-2017

Abstract

Introduction: suicide constitutes one of the medical legal causes of violent death. Although Cuba has a high rate, studies on this problem are scarce.

Objective: to characterize the deaths that occurred by suicide in the southern territory of Ciego de Ávila in the quinquennium 2013-2017.

Method: an observational, descriptive and cross-sectional study was carried out of the 179 deaths by suicide that occurred in the four municipalities of the southern territory of the Ciego de Ávila province. Theoretical methods were used: analytical-synthetic, historical-logical and hypothetical-deductive, and as empirical, the documentary review of thanatology record books. The ethical precepts were fulfilled.

Results: suicide represented 33,58 % of the violent deaths; among the deceased the male sex (79,30 %), the white color of the skin (83,20 %), the age group 45 years or more predominated (74,86 %) and hanging (78,21 %) as a method of death. Most of the events occurred in the morning (29,05 %) and in the third quarter of the year (29,05 %). Hanging prevailed among men (70,95 %), and flame burns among women (8,38 %).

Conclusions: suicide accounted for a third of violent deaths and increased in 2017. Hanging predominated in the morning hours and in the third quarter of the year.