title: Trends in suicide mortality among Brazilian adults and elderly, 1980 - 2006.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To describe mortality from suicide in Brazil, with emphasis on the older adult population.
  
  
  METHODS
  Temporal analysis and trend analysis by polynomial regression were conducted on suicide in the population above 10 years old in Brazil and the State of Rio de Janeiro (Southeastern Brazil) from 1980-2006. The data were extracted from the Mortality Information System, and the rates calculated by gender and age per 100,000 inhabitants, considering the resident population provided by DATASUS. For the period between 1980 and 1995, the ninth revision of International Statistical Classification of Diseases and Related Health Problems was used, and for 1996 to 2006, the tenth revision.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Suicide rates significantly increased in Brazil and in Rio de Janeiro (respectively reaching 5.7 and 3.1 deaths per 100,000 inhabitants in 2006). The change was caused by the increase in suicides among the male population at all ages. The increase occurred especially among men over 60 years. In Rio de Janeiro, the increase was not statistically significant among men, while there was a decrease among women. The principal means utilized for suicide by men were hanging, suffocation, strangulation and firearms. For women, death by hanging also ranks first, followed by ingestion of solids or liquids, smoke or fire, and jumping from heights. The high rate of suicide by unspecified means reveals problems with data quality.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Suicides are important events in the male population, especially among older men over time. In Rio de Janeiro, the suicide rate is also higher in men, although the difference is not statistically significant. According to the World Health Organization and the Ministry of Health, suicide is preventable, and established interventions exist for each age group.
authors.affiliation: Fundação Oswaldo Cruz, Rio de Janeiro, Brasil. cecilia@claves.fi ocruz.br
authors.forename: Maria Cecília de Souza
authors.initials: MC
authors.lastname: Minayo
authors.forename: Liana Wernersbach
authors.initials: LW
authors.lastname: Pinto
authors.forename: Simone Gonçalves de
authors.initials: SG
authors.lastname: Assis
authors.forename: Fátima Gonçalves
authors.initials: FG
authors.lastname: Cavalcante
authors.forename: Raimunda Matilde do Nascimento
authors.initials: RM
authors.lastname: Mangas
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D017677:Age Distribution; D000367:Age Factors; D001938:Brazil / Q000453:epidemiology; D002423:Cause of Death; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D012307:Risk Factors; D017678:Sex Distribution; D012737:Sex Factors; D013405:Suicide / Q000706:statistics & numerical data / Q000639:trends*; D013997:Time Factors