Mortality from suicide in indigenous children in Brazil

Abstract: This study aimed to describe the characteristics, distribution, and mortality rates from suicide in indigenous children in Brazil compared to non-indigenous children. This descriptive study covered the years from 2010 to 2014, using national databases. The study collected deaths in individuals 10 to 14 years of age whose underlying cause was “inentional self-inflicted injury”. Hanging was the most frequently used means in both indigenous and non-indigenous children, although it was more frequent in the former. Among indigenous children, suicides in hospitals or other healthcare establishments were less common than in non-indigenous. Approximately three-fourths of suicides in indigenous children occurred in just 17 municipalities. The mortality rate from suicide among indigenous children was 11.0/100,000 (8.4-14.3), or 18.5 times higher (10.9-31.6) than in non-indigenous, which was 0.6/100,000 (0.5-0.6), with no differences between boys and girls. This study showed for the first time on a national scale the specific characteristics of suicide in indigenous children, with high rates, and also identified priority areas for interventions.

摘要：本研究旨在对比巴西原住民儿童（indigenous children）与非原住民儿童的自杀特征、分布模式及自杀死亡率。本描述性研究采用国家数据库，覆盖2010至2014年时段，纳入了10至14岁人群中根本死因为“故意自伤”的死亡案例。上吊是两类儿童最常用的自杀手段，且在原住民儿童中更为普遍。与非原住民儿童相比，原住民儿童的自杀行为发生于医院或其他医疗场所的比例更低。约四分之三的原住民儿童自杀案例仅集中在17个自治市范围内。原住民儿童的自杀死亡率为11.0/10万（95%置信区间8.4~14.3），是非原住民儿童（0.6/10万，95%置信区间0.5~0.6）的18.5倍（95%置信区间10.9~31.6），且男童与女童的自杀死亡率无显著差异。本研究首次在全国层面揭示了原住民儿童自杀的特异性特征与高发态势，并明确了自杀干预的优先领域。