SOCIODEMOGRAPHIC PROFILE AND CHARACTERISTICS OF SUICIDE CASES IN CÁCERES, MATO GROSSO, FROM 2017 TO 2023

Abstract

This study aimed to describe the sociodemographic profile and characteristics of suicide occurrences in the municipality of Cáceres, Mato Grosso, Brazil, between 2017 and 2023, analyzing variations between the pre-pandemic and pandemic periods. A retrospective epidemiological study with a quantitative and observational approach was conducted using secondary data extracted from records at the Medical-Legal Institute (IML), collected on-site at the Technical-Scientific Police (POLITEC) in Cáceres, Mato Grosso. A total of 51 suicide deaths were analyzed during the study period. There was a predominance of males (80.3%), with the highest concentration among individuals aged 15 to 29 years (37.2%) and single individuals (49.0%). The most frequent educational level was incomplete elementary education (39.2%). Hanging, strangulation, and suffocation were the predominant methods (74.5%), occurring mainly at home (70.5%). A marked increase in cases was observed from 2020 onward, with the highest annual number recorded in 2023 (n=13). The monthly distribution varied throughout the year, with the highest frequencies observed in February, June, and December. The findings highlight the vulnerability of young adults and males to suicidal behavior in the municipality. The substantial increase in cases during the pandemic period suggests the influence of psychosocial and economic factors on suicide mortality.