Suicide among North Carolina women, 1989-93: information from two data sources

Author: Runyan, C. W. / Moracco, K. E. / Dulli, L. / Butts, J.
Publication: Inj Prev
Topics: Age Group Ethnicity Gender Suicide Surveillance/Data Collection
Keywords: Suicide medical examiner racial minority suicide precursor
Bibliographic information +

The authors examined characteristics and precursors of suicides among women aged 15 and older in North Carolina from 1989 to 1993, using medical examiner’s reports. They identified 882 suicides, suggesting a rate of 5.5 to 7.3 suicides per 100,000 women for this period. White women were nearly three times as likely to commit suicide as racial minorities, while women younger than 45 years were more likely than older women to have had a break-up recently. Information about precursors was not adequate to elucidate a pattern. The authors noted the need for better suicide surveillance to guide intervention.