Characterization of self-inflicted violence committed by older people in southern Brazil from 2009 to 2016

Abstract

Objective

To describe the characteristics of older people who committed self-inflicted violence, reported in the Notifiable Diseases Information System (SINAN) in southern Brazil, from 2009 to 2016.

Method

This is a retrospective, descriptive study with a quantitative approach, and with secondary data. The variables in relation to the sociodemographic characteristics of the places and means of violence were selected based on the notification forms. Variables were subjected to descriptive statistical analysis using simple frequency and proportion (%), stratified by age group (60-69 years; 70-79 years; 80 years or more) and confidence intervals were performed (95%CI). Statistical significance was tested using the chi-square test (χ²) and considered the value of p≤0.05.

Results

The results showed that, in the southern region of Brazil, the profile of older people who committed self-inflicted violence are predominantly aged 60 to 69 years (61.3%), male (56.1%), white (90.9%), with low educational level (56.3%) and married (54.0%). Among the states, Rio Grande do Sul recorded the highest number of notifications (50.7%), urban areas (81.8%) and residences/collective housing (90.2%) predominated as places of occurrence. The most used means of violence were hanging (29.9%) and poisoning (24.9%). The occurrence of two outcomes was observed, repetition (31.5%) of self-inflicted violence and death records (43.8%).

Conclusion

The outlining of the epidemiological profile, in the southern region of Brazil, identified groups of older people who need more attention in the actions of prevention and occurrence of self-inflicted violence, being male older people, younger and with low education.

Keywords
Violence; Suicide Attempted; Elderly; Health Information Systems