Suicide as a Public Health Problem in Honduras: Epidemiological Characterization and Stratification by Sex

Abstract

Introduction: Suicide represents a significant public health problem in Honduras, whose patterns by sex, age, and geographic area have been scarcely explored. Objective: To characterize suicide in Honduras, emphasizing differences by sex, age group, mechanism, and geographic distribution. Materials and methods: Descriptive ecological study. Crude and age-standardized suicide rates in Honduras between 2013 and 2023 were calculated, stratified by sex, age group, and municipality of residence. Data were obtained from the National Observatory of Violence. Temporal patterns, age differences, and geographic distribution were analyzed. Results: Between 2013 and 2023, a total of 4,498 suicides were reported in Honduras; 80% occurred among men. In men, the age-standardized suicide mortality rate showed an annual percentage change (APC) of 6.6% (95% CI: 4.1–9.7; p < 0.001), while no significant temporal variations were observed among women. The main mechanism among men was hanging (51.6%), while among women it was poisoning or drug ingestion (54.7%). The suicide rate ratio increased by 3% for every 10% increase in the proportion of rural population at the municipal level (RR = 1.03, 95% CI: 1.002–1.06; p = 0.03). Conclusion: Suicide in Honduras shows distinct patterns by sex, age, and geographic location. Adult men and adolescent women were identified as the highest-risk groups. These findings highlight the need for gender-sensitive mental health policies, culturally adapted and focused on prevention throughout the life course.