Epidemiological, sociocultural and clinical characterization of suicidal behavior, Honduras’s north region. Multicentric research

Abstract

Suicidal behavior refers to a series of cognitive aspects such as ideation, planning and behavioral aspects such as attempted and completed suicide. Objective: To characterize sociocultural, epidemiologically and clinically suicidal behavior in people aged thirteen years or older, evaluated at the Hospital Nacional Doctor Mario Catarino Rivas, Policlinico Doctor Miguel Paz Barahona and the Direccion Regional de Medicina Forense of San Pedro Sula, from March 2018 to March 2019. Methodology: Descriptive observational research, cross-sectional, retrospective, carried out in the described period. The sampling method was non-probabilistic with a sample of 184 cases. Data were collected from clinical records and forensic reports using a 34-question questionnaire, validated by Cronbach's Alpha of 0.860, and processed in IBM-SPSS 23.0. Results: 26.37% (48) were aged between 14-19 years, with an average of 29 years. 66.8% (123) presented the suicide attempt as suicidal behavior. Completed suicide in men was 15.8% (29) and attempted suicide in women was 43% (79). The method used in 26.1% (48) of the suicide attempts was poisoning with phosphorus organs, and in the completed suicides it was asphyxiation by hanging in 14.6% (27). Conclusion: According to the findings, the main characteristics were: adolescent between 14 and 19 years old, female, mixed race, single, incomplete secondary school, housewife and unemployed. Determining these characteristics allows for timely intervention and comprehensive management with psychological and/or psychiatric evaluation.