School
School of Public Health
Document Type
Dissertation
Department (new version)
Public Health
Date of Award
1992
Degree Name by School
Doctor of Public Health (DrPH) School of Public Health
Abstract
Suicide is a cause of death more heavily influenced by socioeconomic and behavioral factors than are other causes. In order to understand recent suicide trends, to describe the pattern of suicide rates, and to examine the effects of potential risk factors, we conducted a study in Alabama using suicide death certificate data from 1980 through 1989. U.S. Census reports of 1980 and 1990 were used to calculate suicide rates. Socioeconomic indicators as well as demographic data were also collected by county and over time for studying their relationships with suicide rates. There was a trend of increasing suicide rates in the 1980s in Alabama. Young black males and old white males experienced more dramatic increases. Race, sex, age, and period effects and interactions of these factors explained a great amount of variation in suicide rates. Temporal variation showed a significant increase in late spring and early summer and a lesser peak in the fall. Compared to rates at the national level, there was an increased trend of suicide in Alabama, which led the rates to exceed the national rates in recent years (standardized mortality ratio (SMR) of 109 in 1986 and 107 in 1988). There were larger differences in rates among race and sex groups in Alabama (RR = 2.9, 95% CI: 2.6-3.1 for whites compared to nonwhites, and RR = 4.2, 95% CI: 3.9-4.5 for men compared to women). The marital statuses widowed and divorced were related to a much higher risk of suicide than were other statuses. People in mining, construction, transportation, manufacturing, and agricultural industries experienced a higher risk of suicide than white collar workers or those who worked in offices or in services industries. Firearm use was the most frequent method used in suicide for every demographic group; however, it was more common in males and whites and with older ages. There has been a decreasing trend of using firearms to commit suicide in recent years. Multiple regression analysis of suicide rates in Alabama's 67 counties, based on individual indicators and on factors extracted from factor analysis, further supported the important roles of population demographics, marital status, family composition, group quarters, and employment status on suicide. It is recommended that efforts be made to educate the public about the risk factors and high-risk profiles for suicide. Intervention programs need to target race-, sex- and age-specific high-risk groups.
ProQuest Publication Number
ProQuest ID
9303324
ISBN
979-8-209-18250-4
Recommended Citation
Liu, Tiepu, "Suicide in Alabama, 1980-1989" (1992). All ETDs from UAB. 7181.
https://digitalcommons.library.uab.edu/etd-collection/7181
Comments
DrPH