Suicide Kills More Than 10,000 People Every Year in Bangladesh

Abstract

This study set out to explore the epidemiology of suicide in Bangladesh. A cross-sectional study was carried out during 2003 (January to December). This encompassed a population of 819,429 of all age-groups and sexes. Data was collected by face-to-face interviews at a household level. Suicide was found to be the leading cause of death by injury in the age group of 10-19 years. Adolescent females (10-19 year age group) were found to be the most vulnerable. Overall, the suicide rate was 7.3 (95% CI 5.6-9.5) per 100,000 per year and the highest rate was found in the age group of 60+ years. The rate of suicide was found to be 17-fold higher (95% CI 5.36-54.64) in the rural population, compared to urban rates. Adolescent suicide rate in rural areas was 20.1 (95% CI 12.6-31.7) per 100,000. The rate was 17.7 (95% CI 8.6-34.9) and 22.7(95% CI 12-42) among males and females respectively. Poisoning was found as the most frequent method of suicide. The majority of the suicide victims were found to be very poor and illiterate. Suicide is a major public health problem in Bangladesh. Age, place of residence, economic status and literacy were the major associating factors related to suicide. Adolescents, elderly and those residing in rural regions were the most vulnerable groups.

Suicidal Behaviour in Bangladesh: A Scoping Literature Review and a Proposed Public Health Prevention Model

“…[35]. This idea is supported by Canetto's international survey of suicide rates in women in Muslim countries [38].…”

“…Suicide takes approximately 10,000 lives each year, and is one of the major causes of death in young adult females in Bangladesh [35]. Although the overall estimated average rate of suicide in Bangladesh is 7.3 per 100,000 of the population per year, the rate in adolescents (15 -19 years) is much higher, at 17.1 in males, and 22.7 per 100,000 in females [35] [37].…”

“…It is notable that contrary to the global pattern, the suicide rate for females in all age groups (8.2 per 100,000 populations) is higher than in males (6.5 per 100,000 population) in Bangladesh [35]. Adolescent females (10 -19 years) were found to be the most vulnerable with the rate of suicide of around 20 per 100,000 in rural areas [35].…”

“…Although the overall estimated average rate of suicide in Bangladesh is 7.3 per 100,000 of the population per year, the rate in adolescents (15 -19 years) is much higher, at 17.1 in males, and 22.7 per 100,000 in females [35] [37]. These figures are likely to be an underestimate, since most of these deaths occur in rural areas where procedures for legal and medical surveillance of premature deaths are not well-developed.…”

“…In most high-income countries, mortality reporting systems are well established, but this aspect of health surveillance is generally not adequately addressed in many public health systems in Lower and Middle-Income Countries-LMICs [35]. Suicide deaths mainly occur at home, and indeed some deaths may be unreported (especially in the case of infants) so information about cause of death in official statistics is often absent or unreliable.…”