Personal, SES, and location factors contributing to severe injuries due to suicide attempts in Omaha, Nebraska

Background

The purpose of the study was to describe population characteristics injured due to suicide attempts and examine how area and population characteristics were associated with the suicide rate at the zip code level in Omaha Metropolitan Area, Nebraska, USA. This study is the first study that has been conducted in the state of Nebraska.

Method

The 2007-2013  trauma registry data were obtained for the city of Omaha level.  Both descriptive and multivariate analyses were performed. Alcohol outlets in the zip code area were included as the area characteristics measurement, whereas racial combination and economic demographics were included as the population characteristics both at the zip code and census tract levels.  

Results

The median age of individuals who had significant injuries from suicide attempts is 31. Of all the suicide cases 71.6% cases belong to male population and 27.8% belong to female population. There is a positive linear relationship between suicide rates and alcohol outlets as suicide rates were higher in zip code areas with greater number of alcohol outlets. There are also associations between suicide rates and racial and economic characteristics of the area, as the suicide rates were higher in the areas with higher percentage of Native and Hispanic population, as well as higher percentages of unemployment, income and people under the poverty.     

Conclusions

Our results suggest that those living in poor area and in proximity to an excess number of alcohol outlets are more likely to suffer traumatic injuries due to suicide attempts.