Characteristics of black and white suicide decedents in Fulton County, Georgia, 1988-2002.
OBJECTIVE
We compared the prevalence of risk factors for Black and White suicide decedents in Fulton County, Georgia, from 1988-2002.


METHODS
We used data from the Fulton County Medical Examiner's Office to compile information on suicides that occurred in Fulton County between 1988 and 2002. We used the chi2 test and logistic regression to identify associations between suicide risk factors and race.


RESULTS
Black suicide decedents were more likely than White suicide decedents to be male (odds ratio [OR]=2.06; 95% confidence interval [CI]=1.38, 3.09), to be younger, (< or =24 y [OR = 4.74; 95% CI = 2.88, 7.81]; 25-34 y [OR = 2.79; 95% CI = 1.74, 4.47]; 35-44 y [OR = 1.86; 95% CI = 1.13, 3.07]), and to hurt others in a suicide (OR = 4.22; 95% CI = 1.60, 11.15) but less likely to report depression (OR=0.63; 95% CI=0.48, 0.83), to have a family history of suicide (OR=0.08; 95% CI=0.01, 0.61), or to leave a suicide note (OR=0.37; 95% CI=0.26, 0.52).


CONCLUSIONS
Future research should consider that Black suicide decedents are less likely to report depression than White suicide decedents. This suicide risk difference is important when developing effective suicide prevention programs.
Abe
Karon
K
Division of Public Health, Georgia Department of Human Resources, Atlanta, USA. kabe@cdc.gov
Mertz
Kristen J
KJ
Powell
Kenneth E
KE
Hanzlick
Randy L
RL
D000328:Adult; D044383:Black People / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D005190:Family; D005260:Female; D005845:Georgia; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008487:Medical History Taking; D015995:Prevalence; D012307:Risk Factors; D013405:Suicide / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D044465:White People / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D001741:Black or African American