International Union for Circumpolar Health Ministry of Public Health and Social Development of RF Russian Academy of Medical Sciences Siberian Branch of Russian Academy of Medical Sciences Siberian Branch of Russian Academy of Sciences Medical Polar Fund “Science” The Northern Forum

Abstracts

Northern Epidemiology

Objectives: In time the periode between 1970-1998 suicide mortality was examined in a cohort of 19 801 persons categorized as indigenous Sami in Arctic Norway.

Study Design: There is no registration of ethnicity in the national population register in Norway, for that reason the national census from 1970 was used to define the Sami cohort. Information on vital status and causes of death of the subjects identified as Sami in the census where obtained through record linkage with the Norwegian Causes of Death Register, and compared to the expected number of deaths in a control population of non-Sami residing in Arctic Norway.

Method: Standardised mortality ratios (SMR) were calculated using the suicide rates of the rural population of Arctic Norway as reference.

Results: There was a significant moderate increased risk for suicide among indigenous Sami (SMR=1.27, 95 % Confidence interval (CI):1.02-1.56). In the study period 89 suicides occurred in the cohort (70 men and 19 women) with increased suicide mortality both for indigenous Sami males (SMR=1.27; 95% CI: 0.99-1.61) and females (SMR=1.27; 95% CI: 0.77-1.99). Significant increased suicide mortality was found for young Sami aged 15-24, males (SMR=1.82; 95% CI: 1.13-2.78) and females (SMR=3.17; 95% CI: 1.17-6.91) respectively. Significant increased suicide mortality was found for indigenous Sami males residing in Sami core area (SMR= 1.54; 95% CI: 1.04-2.20) and for indigenous Sami males not belonging to semi nomadic reindeer herding (SMR=1.30; 95% CI: 1.00-1.65).

Conclusion: Clusters of suicides in Sami core area may explain the increased suicide mortality found in subgroups among indigenous Sami.

Note. Abstracts are published in author's edition

© 1996-2005, Siberian Branch of Russian Academy of Sciences, Novosibirsk
Last update: 06-Jul-2012 (11:52:05)