1Associate Professor, Forensic Medicine, Kamineni Institute of Medical Sciences, Narketpally District Nalgonda, Andhra Pradesh
2Assistant Professor, Psychiatry, Kamineni Institute of Medical Sciences, Narketpally District Nalgonda, Andhra Pradesh
3Associate Professor, Community Medicine, Kamineni Institute of Medical Sciences, Narketpally District Nalgonda, Andhra Pradesh
*Corresponding author: Nishat Ahmed Sheikh, Associate Professor, Forensic Medicine, Kamineni Institute of Medical Sciences, Narketpally, District Nalgonda, State Andhra Pradesh. Email ID: drnishatsheikh@gmail.com, Contact No: + 91 009390058109
Online published on 6 February, 2014.
Suicide is considered a major preventable public health problem. It is the third leading cause of death among young adults worldwide. It is generally accepted that suicide marks the tragic endpoint of a highly complex behavior shaped by psychological, social, developmental, and neurobiological factors that translate into a predisposition for the act itself. Prevention strategies need to be tailored to the region-specific demographics of a country and to be implemented in a culturally-sensitive manner.
This study explores the demographic factors of suicide in Andhra Pradesh state and strategies for prevention of suicides. It is observed that in comparison to 2010 there is a decline -5.2% of suicide in 2011. Youth in the age group 15–29 years accounted for the largest proportion 33.90% of suicides, Men accounted for 67.12% whereas Women were 32.87%. Marital status is not necessarily protective. Majority i.e. 79.72% who were married committed suicides, amongst them 54.65% were married male and 25.06% were married Female's. Low intelligence results in a 2-3-fold increased risk of suicide 31.43% were illiterate. The motives and modes of suicide are also distinct. Preventive strategies implemented at a community level and identifying vulnerable individual's maybe more effective.
Suicide, Andhra Pradesh, Prevention, Demographic Factors
