title: Clinical and Epidemiological Characteristics of Suicides Committed in Medellin, Colombia.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  The purpose of this study was to identify the characteristics of individuals who committed suicide in Medellín between 2008 and 2010, and to identify variables related to the type of events.
  
  
  METHODS
  A retrospective and descriptive analysis was conducted on data provided by the National Institute of Legal Medicine and Forensic Sciences. In addition, a univariate and bivariate analysis was used to identify the sociodemographic and medical-legal characteristics of the deceased. Multiple correspondence analysis was also used in order to establish typologies. The information was analyzed using STATA 11.0.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Of the 389 cases occurring between 2008 and 2010, 84.6% (n=329) were men. The male to female ratio was 5:1; 64% of the cases occurred in people aged 18-45 years; 6.7% occurred in children under 18, with hanging being the method most chosen by the victims (48.3%). Exploratory analysis was used to identify a possible association between the use of violent methods and events occurring in the housing and social strata 1, 2 and 3.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Some factors could be associated with suicide, providing data that could consolidate health intervention strategies in our population.
authors.affiliation: National Institute of Legal Medicine and Forensic Sciences, University of Antioquia, Medellín, Colombia. Electronic address: portega@medicinalegal.gov.co.
authors.forename: Paula Andrea
authors.initials: PA
authors.lastname: Ortega
authors.affiliation: Director of Research, CES University, Medellín, Colombia.
authors.forename: Ruben Darío
authors.initials: RD
authors.lastname: Manrique
authors.affiliation: Laboratorio de Genómica, Medicine Faculty DAM, Comalcalco, Universidad Juárez Autónoma de Tabasco, México.
authors.forename: Carlos Alfonso
authors.initials: CA
authors.lastname: Tovilla Zarate
authors.affiliation: Psychiatry Department, Medicine Faculty, University of Antioquia, Medellín, Colombia.
authors.forename: Carlos
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: López Jaramillo
authors.affiliation: Professor, Psychology Faculty, Universidad de San Buenaventura, Medellín, Colombia.
authors.forename: Jorge Mauricio
authors.initials: JM
authors.lastname: Cuartas
keywords: Características sociodemográficas; Etiología multifactorial; Medellín; Multifactorial etiology; Sociodemographic characteristics; Suicide; Suicidio