Trends in Poisoning Suicide Rates in Taiwan
Author Information
Author(s): Lin Jin-Jia, Lu Tsung-Hsueh
Primary Institution: Chi-Mei Medical Center
Hypothesis
Did the reduction in solids/liquids poisoning suicide rates after pesticide restrictions lead to an increase in other suicide methods?
Conclusion
No method substitution was found along with the reduction in solids/liquids suicide rates in Taiwan.
Supporting Evidence
- Suicide rates by solids/liquids decreased from 12.6 to 3.7 per 100,000 in males and from 10.0 to 2.6 in females between 1983 and 1993.
- No rise in hanging or other methods was observed during the same period.
- The study found significant downward slopes in sex-specific suicide rates by solids/liquids.
Takeaway
The study looked at suicide rates in Taiwan and found that when they made it harder to get pesticides, fewer people killed themselves with them, and they didn't start using other methods instead.
Methodology
Data on age-, sex-, and method-specific suicide rates from 1971-1993 were analyzed using national mortality data files.
Potential Biases
Potential underestimation of suicide rates due to misclassification of undetermined deaths.
Limitations
The study used broad ICD codes that included various substances, making it difficult to isolate specific causes of death.
Participant Demographics
Data included age and sex-specific suicide rates.
Statistical Information
P-Value
0.000
Confidence Interval
95% CI = -1.12, -0.80
Statistical Significance
p<0.05
Digital Object Identifier (DOI)
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