Poverty and suicide in Transkei region of South Africa

Background: Poverty leads to many social ills including suicide. Hanging is the method of choice for a poor person in committing suicide. Transkei is one of the poor regions of the Eastern Cape in South Africa. Objective: To study the trend of suicides in Transkei region and to follow the link between suicide and poverty. Method: This is a retrospective study from 1996 to 2006, carried out at Mthatha (Umtata) Hospital Complex mortuary. More than 1000 medico-legal autopsies are conducted annually, catering to a population of 400 000 of former Transkei region. Results: Ten thousand one hundred and thirty-eight medicolegal autopsies were conducted between 1996 and 2006. Of this 552 (5.4%) were hangings. The average of hangings is 13.3 per 100 000 population annually. The number has increased from 6.7 per 100 000 population in 1996 to 21.7 in 2006 (p=0.05,X2=17). Males outnumbered females 5.9:1. The highest percentage (33.9%) of deaths were between 21 and 30 years. There is circumstantial evidence that growing financial difficulties along with HIV/AIDS have been contributory to these deaths. Conclusion: There is an increasing incidence of suicides in Transkei region of South Africa. Poverty appears to be contributory to these deaths. MeSh Headings/