Suicide in Third World countries: The case of rural Ecuador.

Résumé

Suicide rates in Third World countries are usually low in official records. This may be due to underreporting or a low level of risk factors. A key informant survey involving 16 villages and hamlets in Ecuador showed that the rate of suicide in a rural area of the Andes was much higher than what is usually reported for regions with similar characteristics. The age-adjusted rate was about 9 per 100,000 per annum over a period of 20 yrs. Suicide victims were predominantly young. Marital and family conflicts were the main provoking agents. ÉPIDÉMIOLOGIE TIERS-MONDE MILIEU-RURAL ADULTE