COVID-19 pandemic and changes in urban-rural inequalities of suicide in the Province of Buenos Aires-Argentina, 2017-2021

IntroductionOur objective was to analyze the urban-rural inequalities of suicide between the pre-pandemic and pandemic periods in the Province of Buenos Aires (PBA), during 2017-2021. MethodsData regarding sex, age and municipality of occurrence of suicides were used, provided by the Ministry of Health (MSAL) of the PBA and the National Criminal Information System (SNIC). Municipalities were divided into four urbanization categories according to their population density. Annual variations in suicide were analyzed and through two periods: pre-pandemic (2017-2019) and pandemic (2020-2021). Negative binomial regressions were calculated to estimate suicide inequalities between urbanization categories. ResultsMen, people 60+ years old, residents of municipalities with high social fragmentation, and with low levels of poverty presented a higher risk of suicide. The year 2020 recorded the lowest risk of suicide. The most urbanized municipalities had a lower risk of suicide compared to the most rural municipalities. With data from the MSAL, these inequalities were similar comparing between the pre-pandemic and pandemic periods. The SNIC data showed some differences possibly attributable to under-reporting of suicides in 2020. ConclusionAnalysis of both data sources suggest that the social and economic effects of the COVID-19 pandemic did not lead to an increase in urban-rural suicide gaps.