Causes of violent, deaths in the municipal region of S. Paulo, Brazil: III - intentional deaths

Abstract

Deaths resulting from violent causes, specifically those due to suicide and homicide, in the city of S. Paulo, Brazil, are described by classifying them in terms of their real causes and by establishing the relationship between these causes and the variables considered important from the epidemiological standpoint. The results show a decline in the suicide rate between 1960 and 1975; during the same period, however, the rate for homicides increased from 5.18 to 9.35 per hundred thousand inhabitants. The mortality rate for suicides among men increased in the older age brackets, contrary to that for women which peaked in the 20-29 bracket. The statistics on homicides showed that the death rate for males was greater than for females by a ratio of approximately 7:1 throughout the period under review. The means used to cause death were also studied. To commit homicide, firearms were always preferred to other means; their use increased by 268% during the period under study. Suicide and homicide behaviour patterns are also given according to time of day, day of the week, month, and place.