title: Living circumstances of suicide mortality in a South African city: an ecological study of differences across race groups and sexes.
abstract: In this study the importance of living area circumstances for suicide mortality was explored. Suicide mortality was assessed across race and sex groups in a South African city and the influence of area-based compositional and sociophysical characteristics on suicide risk was considered. Suicide mortality rates are highest among Whites, in particular White males. Main--and independent--dimensions of the living circumstances of residential areas (i.e., socioeconomic circumstances, economic need, and matrimony) influence age-adjusted suicide rates for both sexes but minimally so for race groups. Less favorable clusters of circumstances have a protective effect.
authors.affiliation: Karolinska Institutet, Department of Public Health Sciences, Division of Social Medicine, Stockholm, Sweden. stephanie.burrows@phs.ki.se
authors.forename: Stephanie
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Burrows
authors.forename: Lucie
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Laflamme
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D002391:Catchment Area, Health; D004651:Employment / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D005006:Ethnicity / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D005163:Factor Analysis, Statistical; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D012931:Social Environment; D013019:South Africa / Q000453:epidemiology; D013405:Suicide / Q000208:ethnology* / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D014505:Urban Population / Q000706:statistics & numerical data