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Suicide Among Indigenous Peoples In Brazil from 2000 to 2020

26 Pages Posted: 6 Jan 2023

See all articles by Jacyra Azevedo Paiva Araujo

Jacyra Azevedo Paiva Araujo

Oswaldo Cruz Foundation (FIOCRUZ) - Center for Data and Knowledge Integration for Health (CIDACS)

Erika Xavier

Oswaldo Cruz Foundation (FIOCRUZ) - Center for Data and Knowledge Integration for Health (CIDACS)

Flávia Jôse O. Alves

Oswaldo Cruz Foundation (FIOCRUZ) - Center for Data and Knowledge Integration for Health (CIDACS)

Andrey Moreira Cardoso

Fundação Oswaldo Cruz - Escola Nacional de Saúde Pública

Jesem Orellana

Oswaldo Cruz Foundation (FIOCRUZ) - Instituto Leônidas e Maria Deane (ILMD)

John Naslund

Harvard University - Department of Global Health and Social Medicine

Mauricio Lima Barreto

Oswaldo Cruz Foundation (FIOCRUZ) - Center for Data and Knowledge Integration for Health (CIDACS)

Vikram Patel

Public Health Foundation of India - Centre for Chronic Conditions and Injuries; Harvard University - Harvard Medical School; Global Nature Care Sangathan Group of Institutions; Harvard University - Department of Global Health and Social Medicine

Daiane Machado

Oswaldo Cruz Foundation (FIOCRUZ) - Center for Data and Knowledge Integration for Health (CIDACS); Harvard University - Department of Global Health and Social Medicine

More...

Abstract

Background: Previous studies in Australia, Canada and Brazil state that suicide among ethnic minority groups is higher than in the general population. Brazilian indigenous people have been reported to have a high suicide rate, with reports of clusters of suicide occurring in some communities. The objective of this study is to report trends in countrywide rates of suicide among indigenous Brazilians from 2000 to 2020, and to compare these rates with the non-indigenous population.

Methods: This is an ecological study using indigenous suicide data collected from all regions of Brazil during a period of 21 years, from 2000 to 2020. We used estimates of suicide from the Mortality Information System (SIM) available on the Brazilian Health Ministry website (DATASUS). Suicide mortality rates by state and region were calculated using the 2010 Census estimated indigenous population, and the projection for other years. We performed a trend analysis and compared trends in suicide between indigenous and non-indigenous population in the period of the study.

Findings: Suicide rates among indigenous Brazilians have reached more than 2 and a half times higher levels than among the overall Brazilian population in 2020 (17.57 suicide deaths vs. 6.35 suicide deaths per 100,000  inhabitants, respectively). The Central-West region of Brazil had the highest suicide rates among indigenous Brazilians over the study time period, reaching 58.8 deaths/100,000 inhabitants in 2008. The younger age group (10 to 24 years) had the highest suicide rates in all years of the study. Time series analyses showed a trend of statistically significant increases in suicide rates for both indigenous and non-indigenous Brazilians in the study period. The North region, more specifically the Amazonas state, has shown an important increase in suicide rates among indigenous populations. The rate of suicide of indigenous in Brazil without Amazonas and Mato Grosso do Sul’s cases, is similar to the rates of the whole Brazilian population, demonstrating that these two states are home to the most vulnerable indigenous peoples.

Interpretation: While there were statistically significant increases in suicide rates for all Brazilians over the period of the study, suicide rates remain alarmingly higher among indigenous Brazilians compared to their non-indigenous counterparts. The high rates of suicide among the indigenous peoples and specially the younger individuals (10 to 24 years) reinforces the need for specific prevention strategies for the indigenous population. Further studies should be concentrated in determining risk factors in distinct ethnic groups, specifically within regions experiencing elevated risk, such as the States of Amazonas and Mato Grosso do Sul.

Funding: JAPA, EF, FJO and DBM were funded by the National Institute of Health no R01MH128911-01.

Declaration of Interest: Authors report no conflicts of interest.

Ethics Approval: Not applicable.

Keywords: Epidemiology, Suicide, Indigenous

Suggested Citation

Araujo, Jacyra Azevedo Paiva and Xavier, Erika and Alves, Flávia Jôse O. and Cardoso, Andrey Moreira and Orellana, Jesem and Naslund, John and Lima Barreto, Mauricio and Patel, Vikram and Machado, Daiane, Suicide Among Indigenous Peoples In Brazil from 2000 to 2020. Available at SSRN: https://ssrn.com/abstract=4316877 or http://dx.doi.org/10.2139/ssrn.4316877

Jacyra Azevedo Paiva Araujo (Contact Author)

Oswaldo Cruz Foundation (FIOCRUZ) - Center for Data and Knowledge Integration for Health (CIDACS) ( email )

Erika Xavier

Oswaldo Cruz Foundation (FIOCRUZ) - Center for Data and Knowledge Integration for Health (CIDACS) ( email )

Flávia Jôse O. Alves

Oswaldo Cruz Foundation (FIOCRUZ) - Center for Data and Knowledge Integration for Health (CIDACS) ( email )

Bahia
Brazil

Andrey Moreira Cardoso

Fundação Oswaldo Cruz - Escola Nacional de Saúde Pública ( email )

Jesem Orellana

Oswaldo Cruz Foundation (FIOCRUZ) - Instituto Leônidas e Maria Deane (ILMD) ( email )

John Naslund

Harvard University - Department of Global Health and Social Medicine ( email )

Mauricio Lima Barreto

Oswaldo Cruz Foundation (FIOCRUZ) - Center for Data and Knowledge Integration for Health (CIDACS) ( email )

Bahia
Brazil

Vikram Patel

Public Health Foundation of India - Centre for Chronic Conditions and Injuries ( email )

India

Harvard University - Harvard Medical School ( email )

25 Shattuck St
Boston, MA 02115
United States

Global Nature Care Sangathan Group of Institutions ( email )

India

Harvard University - Department of Global Health and Social Medicine ( email )

Daiane Machado

Oswaldo Cruz Foundation (FIOCRUZ) - Center for Data and Knowledge Integration for Health (CIDACS) ( email )

Bahia
Brazil

Harvard University - Department of Global Health and Social Medicine ( email )

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