Mortalidad por suicidio en adultos mayores, provincia Pinar del Río

a descriptive cross-sectional study was performed at describing the death rate due to suicide in the aged people during 2001-2005 in pinar del rio province. the sample coincides with the universe under study which was based on all deaths due to this cause during this period of time. the studied variables were analyzed and the specific mortality rates were estimated allowing to establish the levels and the structure of the mortality rate. data were processed by version 2003microsoft excel. suicide rate showed a decrease. the rates increased with age. hanging was the most common cause of death, being more frequently early in the morning. the great risk was observed in rural areas in both sexes.