Suicides by hanging and its association with meteorological conditions in Sao Paulo

Author(s)

Zerbini, Talita ^{[1, 2]} ; Percinio Gianvecchio, Victor Alexandre ^{[1, 2]} ; Regina, Damaris ^[3] ; Tsujimoto, Tamy ^[3] ; Ritter, Victor ^[3] ; Singer, Julio M. ^[3]

Affiliation

^[1] Med Legal Inst Sao Paulo, Sao Paulo - Brazil

^[2] Univ Sao Paulo, Dept Legal Med, Sao Paulo - Brazil

^[3] Univ Sao Paulo, Dept Stat, Sao Paulo - Brazil

• Document type: Journal article
• Source: JOURNAL OF FORENSIC AND LEGAL MEDICINE; v. 53, p. 22-24, JAN 2018.
• Web of Science Citations: 1

Abstract

The main goal of this study was to evaluate the association between daily cases of hanging suicides and meteorological conditions in Sao Paulo, Brazil. We considered a retrospective observational study based on the analysis of all necroscopic medical-expert reports available in digital form from the central unit of the Instituto Medico Legal (Medical Legal Institute) of Sao Paulo between July 1, 2006 and June 31, 2007. The meteorological variables were combined via Principal Components Analysis. In order to explain their association with the frequency of suicides, Poisson regression models were employed. The analysis suggests that hotter and brighter days are associated with higher incidence of hanging suicides. (AU)

• FAPESP's process: 13/21728-2 - The use of modern autopsy techniques to investigate human diseases (MODAU)
• Grantee: Paulo Hilário Nascimento Saldiva
• Support Opportunities: Research Projects - Thematic Grants