title: Gender differences in relation to suicides committed in the capital of Montenegro (Podgorica) in the period 2000-2006.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  The purpose of the study was to research gender differences in suicides committed in Podgorica between 2000 and 2006, including sociodemographic variables (e.g. age, marital status, education etc.), methods of and motives for committing suicide. Data were taken from the Police Directorate of Montenegro.
  
  
  METHODS
  We used data on 220 males and 83 females who committed suicide. Statistical analysis was done by using the crude specific rate. Significance between two independent crude rates is constructed around their 95% confidence intervals and it utilizes the difference between the two rates (D) to determine significance.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The incidence of suicide in males was found to be higher than in females (the male to female suicide ratio is 2.6 to 1). Females were older than males. Females had completed elementary education more frequently , and they were single or divorced or widows. Males had completed secondary education more frequently and they were married. The most frequent employment status of both gender groups implied pensioner and unemployment statuses. There was a significant difference in suicide rates between the genders during the reporting period. Suicide rates increase with age in both genders. Males chose firearms, hanging, strangulation and suffocation and jumping. Females chose hanging, strangulation and suffocation, jumping and drowning as the most frequent methods of suicide. The most frequent motive for suicide in both gender groups was physical illness. The second most frequent motive was mental illness. Emotional and financial difficulties were motives which were more common in males, whereas family problems appeared to be motives two times more frequent in females.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The complex multifactorial etiology of suicide suggests the need to consider gender differences when developing effective strategies for the therapy and the prevention of suicide.
authors: School of Medicine University of Montenegro, Medical Center of Police Directorate of Montenegro, Bulevar Svetog Petra Cetinjskog 6, Podgorica, Montenegro. injacl@t-com.me
authors: Lidija Injac
authors: LI
authors: Stevović
authors: Miroslava
authors: M
authors: Jašović-Gašić
authors: Olivera
authors: O
authors: Vuković
authors: Mirko
authors: M
authors: Peković
authors: Nataša
authors: N
authors: Terzić
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D002423:Cause of Death; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D004522:Educational Status; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D054548:Montenegro; D009042:Motivation; D012737:Sex Factors; D012959:Socioeconomic Factors; D013405:Suicide / Q000523:psychology / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D014505:Urban Population / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D055815:Young Adult