J Prev Med Public Health.  2012 Mar;45(2):70-77. 10.3961/jpmph.2012.45.2.70.

Suicide Rate Differences by Sex, Age, and Urbanicity, and Related Regional Factors in Korea

• Cheong KS
• Choi MH
• Cho BM
• Yoon TH
• Kim CH
• Kim YM
• Hwang IK

• KMID: 1364851
• DOI: http://doi.org/10.3961/jpmph.2012.45.2.70

Abstract

OBJECTIVES
Identify the characteristics related to the suicide rates in rural and urban areas of Korea and discover the factors that influence the suicide rate of the rural and urban areas.
METHODS
Using the data on causes of death from 2006 to 2008, the suicide rates were calculated and compared after age-standardization based on gender, age group and urbanicity. And, in order to understand the factors that influence suicide rate, total 10 local characteristics in four domains - public service, social integration, residential environment, and economic status - were selected for multiple regression analysis.
RESULTS
The suicide rates were higher in men than women, in rural areas than urban, and in older people than the younger. Generally, although there were variations according to age group and urbanicity, suicide rates were significantly related to residential environment and regional economic status but not related to regional welfare spending and social integration. In addition, the population over the age of 65 years, only regional economic status has significantly influence on their suicide rates.
CONCLUSIONS
The influence of characteristics of regions on suicide rate is various by age-group, gender, and urbanicity. Therefore, in order to lower suicide rate and reduce the gap between regions, various approaches must be adopted by taking into account the socioeconomic characteristics of the regions.

Keyword

Suicide; Socioeconomic status; Korea

MeSH Terms

Adolescent
Adult
Age Distribution
Aged
Cause of Death/trends
Female
Humans
Male
Middle Aged
Republic of Korea/epidemiology
Residence Characteristics
Rural Population/*statistics & numerical data
Sex Distribution
Socioeconomic Factors
Suicide/*statistics & numerical data
Urban Population/*statistics & numerical data
Young Adult