Data from: Incidence and fatality of serious suicide attempts in a predominantly rural population in Shandong, China: a public health surveillance study

Objectives: To estimate the incidence of serious suicide attempts (SSAs,
defined as suicide attempts resulting in either death or hospitalisation)
and to examine factors associated with fatality among these attempters.
Design: A surveillance study of incidence and mortality. Linked data from
two public health surveillance systems were analysed. Setting: Three
selected counties in Shandong, China. Participants: All residents in the
three selected counties. Outcome: measures Incidence rate (per 100 000
person-years) and case fatality rate (%). Methods: Records of suicide
deaths and hospitalisations that occurred among residents in selected
counties during 2009–2011 (5 623 323 person-years) were extracted from
electronic databases of the Disease Surveillance Points (DSP) system and
the Injury Surveillance System (ISS) and were linked by name, sex,
residence and time of suicide attempt. A multiple logistic regression
model was developed to examine the factors associated with a higher or
lower fatality rate. Results: The incidence of SSAs was estimated to be 46
(95% CI 44 to 48) per 100 000 person-years, which was 1.5 times higher in
rural versus urban areas, slightly higher among females, and increased
with age. Among all SSAs, 51% were hospitalised and survived, 9% were
hospitalised but later died and 40% died with no hospitalisation. Most
suicide deaths (81%) were not hospitalised and most hospitalised SSAs
(85%) survived. The fatality rate was 49% overall, but was significantly
higher among attempters living in rural areas, who were male, older, with
lower education or with a farming occupation. With regard to the method of
suicide, fatality was lowest for non-pesticide poisons (7%) and highest
for hanging (97%). Conclusions: The incidence of serious suicide attempts
is substantially higher in rural areas than in urban areas of China. The
risk of death is influenced by the attempter's sex, age, education
level, occupation, method used and season of year.